Staff Picks (October): Solarman Volume 1 TP

You have to go back to the original Solarman that Marvel produced in the late 80s to really appreciate the level of work and insight Scout’s creative team have put into reimagining this character.  He was a bright orange, blonde-haired, Captain Planet-analog who was created to address the energy crisis of the 70s.  The new Solarman, returning after a twenty-five year hiatus, is a fresh start for the character.  With the full support of Solarman creator, David Oliphant, the new Ben Tucker is an African-American teenage hacker who is tackling modern issues and comes off like the voice of the 99% rather than a proponent for solar power.  Before he even discovers his superpowers, Ben is targeting the wealthy and corrupt, antagonizing bullies, and standing up for the underdog

When a crew of astronauts on a space station encounter a piece of extraterrestrial technology, they are promptly attacked by a powerful alien and the technology is lost in the struggle.  It crashes to Earth and Ben discovers it, exposing him to an energy field that imbues him with nuclear-based power.  His powers come at a cost and that is another intriguing aspect of this take on the superhero genre.  The powers don’t make him better at sports or have more luck with the ladies or finally get to bring Flash Thompson down a peg or two, they throw Ben’s life into total chaos.  By the end of the first issue he is a fugitive from the law, fleeing an alien hunter, and dodging a paramilitary division gunning for the technology that gives him his power. 

— Trevor Richardson

Publisher: Scout Comics
Item Code: OCT161762
Release Date:  12/28/16
SRP: $14.99