QUANTUM & WOODY #2 (Valiant Entertainment, January 31, 2018 release date) Writer: Daniel Kibblesmith. Art & Colors: Kano. Letters: Dave Sharpe.
There were enough things to like about QUANTUM & WOODY #1 to bring me back for another round. This time the focus is on the differences between step-brothers Eric & Woody Henderson, and it’s a good read. This issue doesn’t try so hard to be funny on every page and it works better. The humor is not so on-the-nose, and it’s more entertaining as a result.
Also, it’s the character interaction, the situations, conflicts, and the impending resolutions that keep me interested in the book. Kibblesmith is developing a good storyline, and Kano’s art is very appealing and engaging.
At the end of Issue #1, they dissolved the team and separated over their differences. Well, as much separated as two people can be who have to “klang” their quantum bands together once every twenty-four hours or cease to exist. Eric took a job as security guard at the secretive government Wherehouse for confiscated high-tech weapons. (A good job for a man who can create force fields at will). Woody was swayed by Negative One, a comely female clone to work for her secret employer in exchange for being free of the quantum bands forever. (A good job for a man who shoots energy blasts).
Issue #2 begins with a flashback revealing that the more serious Eric was the geek in the family who immersed himself in role-playing games while Woody, often the reluctant participant, would rather watch cartoons.
In the present, Woody is upset with Eric, who knew that Woody’s real dad was alive and withheld that information. They have a confrontation about it. Eric explains that Woody’s father was a wanted man and had to go into hiding. Woody doesn’t accept that reason and believes that Eric was so lonely he didn’t want to break up the family they shared with Derek Henderson as father.
Woody’s new employers enlist him to smuggle some hardware from the Warehouse as well as kidnap Eric so they can travel to Australia in search of Woody’s father.
There’s more panel time this issue with The Hedge, an interesting new character that is an animated garden hedge that takes a huge man-shape.
Oddly enough, the mustache that Eric (Quantum) sprouted in Issue #1 seems to have disappeared. Did Kano just forget about the change and fail to draw it? A mystery develops.
RATING SYSTEM
STORY: A fun read. Not hah hah funny, just entertaining. I’d rather have it this way. 2 POINTS.
ART: The art really comes to life when Kano inks and colors his own pencils. Dynamic. 2.5 POINTS
COVER: Fun, especially the pre-order variant. 1 POINT.
READ AGAIN? Yes. You miss some of the dialogue and reveals without a second go-through. 1 POINT.
RECOMMEND? I’m enjoying this, but not ready to give it a full recommendation just yet. If you like previous Quantum & Woody titles, you probably will like this. 0.5 POINTS.
TOTAL RATING: 7 POINTS. On the border, and moving towards a higher score.
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