Writer/Artist: Aaron Williams
Publisher: Dork Storm Press/Henchman Publishing
This is more like it! A comic book that is simultaneously funny and thrilling, with a cast of characters I truly cared about! Wow! To think, I had never touched this title until last month, when my local comic shop owner pointed this out to me as a book he highly recommended. Now, I’m telling everyone I can to check out this title and the amazing work being produced by Aaron Williams. The only previous works I had read by Mr. Williams were the various Nodwick strips in Dragon Magazine (which I wasn’t too crazy about) and the recent Truth, Justin, and the American Way (which was pretty decent). I have to say, to my knowledge, this is his best work, and I am officially hooked after only reading two issues. I’m about to go into debt for the first three trade paperbacks! He brings the ideals of super-heroics down to earth, creating a world not too far from our own, which makes it all the more touching and hilarious.
Williams writes the kids of PS238 as an intelligent and charismatic crew, whereas most of the adult super-heroes are bland and stereotypical. In fact, in this issue super-heroes are said to be panicky, violence-happy bullies, but there’s humor tinging this assessment (as it colors everything in this comic). At first glance, the kids of the “Rainmaker Program” are super-powered youngsters who have minor powers that will never take them far as super-heroes, but may be used to make the world a better place. However, during the course of this issue, these boys and girls look and act like the real deal, making the older super-heroes look stupid (causing flying iron men to run into quickly sprouting trees, for instance) and using their wits to complete their mission, which is to escape pursuit and get back to school. Williams doesn’t stereotype the children at all, giving each his or her own unique personality and characteristics. True, the two main adult characters in this issue, Revenant and Harold, are also well developed, but the PS238 kids are the stars of the show, and I really applaud Williams for his deft storytelling in this aspect. Also, his humor is very sly and tongue in cheek, hitting you full in the face with a soft down pillow rather than an iron skillet (the Vanagon comment in the beginning was great!). Even the ending, which was a shocker, included some humor in the words Guardian Angel used to describe her situation. Aaron Williams knows his material and characters inside and out, and all he’s really doing with the PS238 comic book is taking his enthusiasm out for a spin, and we’re fortunate to be along for the ride.
If it’s not enough that the story in this issue rocks, then the art by Mr. Williams is sure to be the selling point for readers. This is artwork without pretension: nice and clean with an effortless ability to portray action and character emotions clearly. True, I think this art could be much better if it were rendered in color, but Williams does something unheard of in this day and age of comics to make up for this lack: he gives us MORE. He fills out this issue with Doctor Positron’s Science Corner (which always gives more insight into the main story), a "Nodwick" strip, and a "Full Frontal Nerdity" strip. This comic book is truly a fan’s delight and something that everyone should be checking out. PS238 isn’t the corny comedy of "Nodwick" or the muscle-bound frivolity of many Marvel and DC comics. It takes the best elements of our hobby, combining it into a wonderfully entertaining product that young or old readers can enjoy.
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