#657 = SUPERNATURAL #1 by Greg Pak and Eder Messias (Dynamite Entertainment, October 2025) Some comics adaptations of popular movies or tv series work, and others don’t. This one does. Although I’m no expert on the SUPERNATURAL series that started on the WB channel and later the CW network, I’d seen enough episodes over it’s marketable run of 15 seasons to be able to tell. Also, Greg Pak is a comics writer known for doing his research and always does a commendable job when working with licensed properties.
I admit that the way I used to watch the show limits by credibility to judge this. When I was working there was frequent overnight travel involved, and I would usually put one television show or another on as background noise when I was working late to write up reports in my hotel room. So, while I’ve watched a random number of episodes over the years - - SUPERNATURAL never held my full attention, and I never watched it in my leisure time back at home.
In short the tv series followed brothers Dean and Sam Winchester as they hunted ghosts, monsters, demons, and other supernatural beings.
Issue #1 as scripted by Pak sprinkles in just enough information for those unfamiliar with the tv show to pick up on the premise and a little of the background. I thought that Pak did a commendable job of capturing the personalities of the two brothers and their frequent squabbling and their sometimes dark humor. Sam is the more serious and sensitive of the two, frequently plagued by disturbing dreams or flashbacks. Dean is more carefree, more of a con man, and definitely has an eye for the ladies.
It looks like the issues will be episodic stand-alone stories, which is a good way to maintain the flavor of the original. Issue #1 deals with attempts to capture a demon imp in a bottle, granting good fortune (and dooming their soul) to anyone successful at doing so. Every attempt during the story results in dramatic fires or spontaneous human combustion. The brothers have to assist a distillery owner to recapture the demon and contain it. It’s a fun story with some functional but not exceptional artwork.
My favorite scene occurs when the brothers try to pass themselves off as investigators hired by the distillery and identify themselves as Roth (as in David Lee Roth) and Halen (as in Van Halen). THREE AND ONE-QUARTER STARS. I just might return for another sample of this when I spot it on comic shop new release shelves.
#658-#667 = UNICO: THE AWAKENING children’s graphic novel by Samuel Sattin and Gurihiru (Scholastic/Graphix, August 2024) Paperback, 224 pages.
I didn't expect to enjoy this, but I did and it was a nice surprise. I wanted to gift this book to my grandkids (10, and 7) but I always read them first to make sure there isn't any objectionable stuff. There is a cruel hunter within the story, a wicked looking villain, and a monster- - but children who are exposed to today's brand of cartoons and videos shouldn't be alarmed by it.
The main character, Unico, is a young unicorn transported to a strange (to him) land right after his memories have been stripped. He/she is cute, and very likable. The story revolves around the efforts to find Unico and restore him to his rightful place (godlike). Meanwhile, Unico does his best to fit into his new environment making friends with an also likable cat and learning some life lessons about friendship, support, and standing up for your values.
It's a book that can be enjoyed by young readers from elementary school through middle school, as well as adults. This is also significant in that UNICO is a re-boot of a successful 1976 character in books and film created by Osamu Tezuka, considered the God of Manga (creator of Astro Boy). The book reads left to right, unlike traditional manga, and is also colored (as opposed to black and white). It has the feel and look of manga and anime, very whimsical and colorful. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.
