Deadman Issue #1 comic review: Boston Brand is on a warpath

As the miniseries come in bunches for DC Comics, Deadman is the latest to get his own solo series.

Writer/Art: Neal Adams

Boston Brand as Deadman has been somewhat of a gimmick in recent years. When it was announced that the legendary Neal Adams would be taking on a six-issue miniseries of the ghostly superhero, many contemplated what direction the character would take.

It’s safe to say we won’t see the silly Boston Brand we’ve become used to in recent DC animated movies. Neal Adams takes us on a vengeful journey, where Deadman is seeking punishment to the assassin who murdered him.

Boston Brand is dead, but not really.

So, as expected, there was a huge emphasis on Deadman being dead. His rage from his random death was elaborated in a beautifully drawn first panel, where Adams depicts Deadman with glowing eyes and screaming out the name of his assassin, Hook.

Deadman transports himself to a nuclear site, where Commissioner Jim Gordon is serving as an ambassador. He shows up right behind Hook, who is planning to kill Gordon.

He reminisced at the previous chance he had at revenge. It shows Deadman witnessing Hook’s sensei beating him almost to death. Brand peculiarly interferes, entering his murderer’s body to defend him. The sensei seems to notice Deadman, or at least an un-seeable entity is in the room.

Hook appears to be dead, but in facts survives the fight.

Deadman and Batman. Both crazy in their own little way.

Deadman is a difficult standalone character, which is why Neal Adams brought in a powerhouse in Batman to ease some unknowing readers into the first issue. Batman and Deadman are both absolutely insane in such a contrasting way, that it makes them perfect to write as a duo.

Think of Boston Brand — a former circus performer looking to kill his murderer — and the infamous Batman, whose stone-cold attitude sometimes come off as arrogant.

Batman messes with Brand’s head about the life of the Hook’s sensei. He convinces Brand he murdered the sensei, which puts him in a battle against Batman’s wits about whether he’s lying or not. The intense surgical approach of Batman meshes beautifully with the brash, pure anger Deadman shows throughout the entire comic.

Alfred and Jim Gordon Get Branded

Deadman’s most useful ability is to take control of a living body. The most comical scene came inside Wayne manor, where he entered the body of the beloved butler Alfred Pennyworth. Alfred was in mid-step, where Deadman enters his body and causes coffee to spill on Bruce Wayne.

Because of Jim Gordon’s presence in the room, Brand and Wayne have a subliminal conversation, where Wayne urges him to leave Alfred’s body. He does as he’s told, and instead uses Gordon as his vessel.

Wayne gives Brand the information he needs, and when Gordon is freed from Brand’s control, he confusingly looks at the note in his hand. The comedic scene involving Gotham’s three classic characters stood out near the end of the comic.

Worth The Read?

Passing up on anything Neal Adams is a mistake. I will admit, however, it is a comic that you have to read more than once to fully digest the storyline. The art is beautiful, but at times you get lost along the story. The snippet of Boston Brand’s twin brother and the scene where he is hysterically laughing at Hook’s supposed death threw me for a loop.

The story is interesting, and I’m excited to see how Adams approaches what characters will be supporting Deadman through this six-issue run. If Batman is a constant, it has the chance to be something special. If not, then this could be the Deadman series that captures the essence of the character Adams drew so famously.

Next: Archie #25 Review

It is worth the read, and it’s worth waiting for next month’s issue to drop in your local comic book store as well.

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