Quantum and Woody is the book you need to make room for by dropping something else or selling your plasma. There is nothing currently available that’s as funny or as engaging as this title – and I can say that with all honesty because I’ve never run for office, sold used cars, or been the victim of spontaneous pants combustion. The great news for you, in addition to having someone as honest as I tell you that you need to be reading this book, is that this issue doesn’t require you to read the first five (but I suggest you do).
The story picks up with the responsible brother Quantum, a handsome and intelligent African American man, telling his trouble making moocher of a brother Woody that he is leaving on a suicide mission for the military industrial company Magnum Security, Inc. he works for. Quantum admitted to his boss that he stole top secret equipment, and was involved in an accident with that equipment, that caused him to have super-powers. He expected to be fired for the theft, but instead got a raise and a promotion. All he has to do for the promotion is use the abilities he gained for the good of his company. Quantum is the only one capable of surviving the top secret mission that would, for anyone else, be suicide.
It wouldn’t be a team up book though without his brother Woody and Woody finds a way to weasel is way into the mission regardless of how Quantum feels. There’s also a goat with laser beams for eyes and some sexy clones – one of which Woody has named 69 and is dating. Again, all of that is covered in the issue.
The art is by Ming Doyle, with colors by Jordie Bellaire. Ming’s recent work on the Image comic title Mara, written by Brian Wood, also had coloring by Jordie Bellaire. The tone of her colors on Ming’s art is less flat this time and fits perfectly with this title. Their art together is a wonderful pairing and I hope they stick around on this title for a while. It’s always refreshing to see the two work together. Ming’s visual interpretation of story, combined with the wonderful dialogue provided by James Asums, is why this book is such a heavy hitter for Valiant.
Asmus has recently worked on Gambit for Marvel and Thief of Thieves for Image. He has a history as a playwright and performer. Those skills shine through in his writing via characters that are organic despite being trapped in cliché. As much as this kind of story can often be a throw-away, Quantum and Woody isn’t because of the talented storytellers bringing it to life every month. This comic is a book for every kind of comic book reader. If you think it might not be for you, flip through it at the stand next Wednesday when it comes out and then decide. In fact, if you don’t find at least one page that’s funny then you can expect a pic of my trousers hanging from a telephone wire to show up on Twitter in the near future.
Quantum and Woody #6 will be available December 4th in finer comic book shops everywhere. To see if my tweets have any scorched pants blowing in the cold Autumn breeze, follow me on Twitter @MarkAvo. Also, check out the preview pages of Quantum and Woody #6 after the solicit below.
Writer: James Asmus
Artist: Ming Doyle
Colorist: Jordie Bellaire
Cover Artist: Clayton Crain (OCT131351)
Variant Cover by: Kalman Andrasofszky (OCT131352)
Price, Rating & Page Count: $3.99/T+/32 pgs.
Available: 12/4/13
Preview art courtesy of Valiant Comics
