FIRE POWER, VOLUME 1: PRELUDE Story by Robert Kirkman. Art by Chris Samnee (Image Comics, July 2020) Trade paperback, 160 pages. ISBN # 1534316558 / 978534316553.
Summary on the Goodreads website . . . . .
"ALL-NEW series created by ROBERT KIRKMAN (The Walking Dead, Invincible, Oblivion Song) and Chris Samnee (Daredevil)!
Owen Johnson's journey to China to learn about his birth parents eventually leads him to a mysterious Shaolin Temple. The students there study to rediscover the Fire Power, the lost art of throwing fireballs. A power they claim will be needed soon to save the world. Will Owen Johnson be the first person in a thousand years to wield the FIRE POWER?”
My Four-Star Review on the Goodreads website . . . . .
Robert Kirkman does it again! Not only is he an idea factory for compelling comic series, but he's also a skillful writer who knows how to pull readers into his imaginary worlds almost as soon as they begin reading. Quickly, he manages to evoke enough interest to keep readers turning the pages until a particular chapter, or issue, or trade paperback is finished.
A big reason is the creation of such admirable and lovable characters. The first eleven pages are a caption-free, dialogue-free depiction of one man's quest to climb a sky-high snowy mountain - - beautifully rendered by the stylish and uncomplicated art of Chris Samnee. The campfire scenes tell us just enough to know that Chinese American orphan Owen Johnson is on a quest to learn about his birth parents.
He becomes a student at a Shaolin temple where students strive to rediscover a lost Fire Power. He makes friends and enemies, begins a troubled love affair, and develops the power needed to allegedly help save the world. With an economy of words (with some exceptions in the few expository scenes) the expressive art of Samnee reinforces the story. A particular favorite are the fight scenes.
Owen learns of his origins and his true parents, and the Fire Power is awakened within his core. It's a satisfactory finish that seems more complete than most comic series. However, there are so many questions still unanswered and more of Johnson's background and the struggles of his parents are yet to be told (although I'm sure Kirkman won't leave us hanging forever).
The final pages flash forward to fifteen years later as Owen is now a married man, father of two, and living a seemingly quiet life in the United States. Until he gets a reminder of his past and a call to return to China.
This is a great beginning to a series that looks to be more involved and engaging than outward appearances. Too many readers may dismiss this as just another Iron Fist / Karate Kid spin-off and that would be a shame. Recommended.
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