DC Comics reviews for the week of 1/23/19

Naomi #1

Naomi #1 might be the best example of vintage Brian Michael Bendis at DC these days. Along with co-writer David F. Walker, Bendis quickly makes a case for getting sucked into the story of Naomi, a seemingly ordinary girl who happens to be adopted.

A huge Superman fangirl, Naomi is dismayed to catch the tail end of Big Blue’s throwdown with Mongul in her quiet hometown of Port Oswego. The town is so quiet that it’s big news when Superman returns, in classic Superman fashion, to clean up the mess from the fight. It’s a small moment, but one that underscores the impact Superman has on regular people.

Naomi gets intrigued by the news that another event happened in Port Oswego and wants some details.

Right away the dialogue sounds real and authentic. Bendis and Walker make a good combination and they capture the voice of Naomi and her friends with no trouble. There’s no big conspiracy, action or a ton of suspense, but Bendis and Walker find a sort of Veronica Mars vibe here that makes it immediately addictive.

Couple that with Jamal Campbell’s art and this book just shot way up on my must-read list. Campbell has always been a tremendous artist and Naomi looks to be a great showcase for his talents. On the Kevin Maguire scale, Campbell crafts some of the best facial expressions on the market. That’s key for a book that’s low on action. At least for now.

I’m not sure what Walker and Bendis have in store for Naomi and her friends, but this latest addition to the Wonder subset of books lives up to the billing. Consider my interest piqued for what could be another stellar character-driven Bendis book.

Rating: 9.5 out of 10