Advance Review: Backfired #1

One of the most difficult literary devices that a writer can use in film and TV writing, is to a add a sense of urgency to the story ”” whatever the characters must do, they must do it within the time limit or the bomb will go off or, The hostage will be killed, the poison will be released. David Pantano makes this concept more relevant applying it to everyday life in Backfired.
Backfired #1, centers around Wally McDermott a script writer for a Super-Hero TV movie. The movie is supposed to be about the superhero named Backfire, and He wants to get it just about perfect. The thing is that Wally has the same issues that most of us has have that is on our back a family that requires our time and attention bills that pile up. while he has a limited time to get the whole thing written but just like the rest of us, he has all types of things that seem to be getting in his way.

Backfired #1 works on so many levels. Here time itself is the foe with the help of some random things that impede the hero’s progress. It also demonstrates how much relationships can be difficult. Even on the business end, Wally sometimes lack what is needed to manage the required effort focus, creativity, and patience. Perhaps the most important thing required, however, is maintaining a sense of urgency.

Thematically it reminds me of Jeff Lemire“s Royal City, And that it goes out of its way to show you that life isn’t easy there will be challenges but What keeps us going is the possible light at the end of the tunnel . But perhaps What is more interesting is that while the themes here are quite Serious Dave Pantano keeps the atmosphere light with welled timed jokes and one-liners.

Diego Toro“s art threatens to be the center of gravity for the issue. I do not know if the readers will be ready for the attention to detail that he put into the panels. The lines are quite exceptional, and I was not expecting quite such depth to this type of book.

Overall: It has relatable characters relevant themes and good artwork. It has the first appearance of a superhero named Backfire. It has several different elements from other stories that I love such as Spencer & Locke“, Royal City, Tick. I could see how this could easily be adopted for bigger things, though I feel like it would have benefited from a much bigger splash cover, it is worth pick up even just for the read.

SCORE: 4/5

(W) Dave Pantano
(A) Diego Toro
(C) Kote Caruajal
SRP: $3.99
Publisher: Source Point Press / Comics ExperienceÂ

In Shops: Jun 24, 2020
Diamond code: APR202041
PRE-ORDER HEREÂ