Everyone has always dreamt of what they'd do if they had Superman-level powers. As a simple man, I would use those powers to become the world's greatest athlete and assume GOAT status in numerous sports. Resolve Comics’ Super Dangerous #1 gives its main character, Jah Sanders, an average 19-year-old college student, Superman-level powers. Jah doesn't aim for the Hall of Fame but for Nobel Prizes. He stops wars, improves the climate, and helps the displaced, which makes him “Super Dangerous” for those who may profit from such things. Naturally, being a super dangerous man brings danger to Jah's doorstep, and this leads to a super fun reading experience (see what I did there?).
Super Dangerous Art Style
The fun hits you immediately as you open Super Dangerous. Lord Kotodwe's lines and colors are simply magnificent. On the art alone, I would pay full price for this book. Every page and panel is filled with life and energy. I would reread pages to get a second look at the art because it felt like I would be doing a disservice if I rushed through it. It is all so gorgeous whether it's a shot of Jah flying among the eagles or a double-page spread of him laying waste to a military base. Not only does it all look great, but it serves the narrative tone. Jah, being a hero, has a bright backdrop in a dingy, lifeless realm that is toned down, and one panel turns red when things go awry. The way Jah is drawn, and his expressions throughout the narrative shifts are perfect. Whether he's angry, happy, or humorously confused, each emotion is conveyed with clarity.
“Resolve Comics' Super Dangerous #1 gives its main character Jah Sanders, an average 19-year-old college student, Superman-level powers.”
Adding to the fun of the gorgeous visuals is the lettering by Sarahy Ocanto. They give the art that extra shine. We see certain character’s words with differing sizes to convey a lack of control. This gives those portions of dialogue life, making what is 2D feel like it has an audio dimension. Ocanto leads your eye with the way she places effects. You don't just see “BOOM” on the page; the onomatopoeia is oriented from the sky, following Jah as he lands and emanates from his impact point. My favorite piece of her lettering sees a long spiraling "yes" (there are many more e's and s’s, but I think I got the number of y's right) that leads you to the next panel and Jah, who is the intended target of the speech.
Character Development and Worldbuilding
Jah is the most fun part of the whole story. Adam Downing writes one of the most enjoyable characters I've read this year. He feels like a real college student; he's funny, cocky, and naive. Once he is endowed with powers he boldly uses them to try and achieve world peace without considering any consequences. I love how his characterization stays consistent because not only does this teenage naivety show room for growth, but it’s also why his family is in danger. Writing Jah in such a way authenticates his predicament. Downing gives us a kid who still has a lot to learn about how the world works.
The world Downing places Jah in is very interesting. Initially, everything seems a lot like our world. It has climate issues, inequality, and needs ceasefires. Of course, Jah takes care of most of this. There are some technological advancements with the weapons used against Jah as a response to his heroic deeds. Alongside the advanced technology, we have weird one-eyed hand spiders, cursed objects, and necromancers. Considering Jah is impervious to nukes, a part of me thought his story as a hero would be a bit bland if he just had to shrug off bombs. Downing introducing the magical aspect added more flavor because Jah's powers will definitely be tested.
The bigger world that Downing delivers is a lot of fun and action. I wish we could see more of Jah's inner world. Don't get me wrong, I love Jah; if he was a real person, I think we'd get along. But the way the story is structured, we don't get to see what is really at stake for him at a deep, specific level. I wish we could have seen more of him outside of just being a superhero and having the powers to solve general world problems. Could we have seen a little bit of what his day-to-day looked like before he "did a world peace"?
“On the art alone, I would pay full price for this book.”
Considering he's 19, he definitely has a social life that he might have to sacrifice to be a hero. We see that he's a big brother, and it would have been nice to see how he connects with his family, considering they are what he is fighting for in this issue. Ultimately, I think the issue packs in a lot more on the worldbuilding and action side of things that it sacrifices that extra characterization of Jah. The biggest ripple effect this had on me is that it sometimes makes the story feel consequence-less. Even a shot of Jah imagining his family being mistreated would add a little depth and let us know that he understands that this hero-fantasy is not all world peace and saved polar bears. This could be Jah's naivety and arrogance in his powers, but it allows him to think about his family and then dismiss it. What’s evident is that Downing is writing a character who has a lot of growing to do and will be meeting obstacles that force him to heavily contemplate the life of a hero.
Super Dangerous #1 is a great introduction to a new character and world. Everyone involved in the issue should take a bow. Every page turn is brimming with life and stunning colors. The lettering is dynamic and eye-catching but not overbearing. The writing brings us a world that is known but filled with discoveries. Jah Sanders is a wonderful character to follow as he navigates its depths. I am excited to see where Jah's powers take him. I know it will be “Super Dangerous” and hopefully even more “Super Fun.”
