Writer: James Robinson
Artist: Pere Perez

The following review is excerpted from Comic Book Revolution (click here to read CBR’s full review)

There have been rumors swirling that DC was going to start printing Adventure Comics once again as a regular monthly title. While that remains to be seen, we did get Adventure Comics Special #1 this week. This issue features the Guardian and also has a cameo appearance by a C-list Legionnaire. I have enjoyed the New Krypton story so far so I fully expected Adventure Comics Special #1 to be a quality read.

Art: 8/10
Story: 9/10
Overall: 8.5/10

The Good

Robinson continues to lay a sound foundation and assemble all of the various players for this big event. This issue successfully introduces the Guardian and his back-story to newer readers unfamiliar with his history. It effectively re-establishes the Guardian within the New DCU as well as giving him a role in the New Krypton story.

Robinson enables the reader to get an excellent feel for The Guardian’s character. The fact that Harper’s first memory was seeing the original Jim Harper being killed by Jonathon Drew immediately sets the tone for the turmoil that rages inside of Harper. I am certainly looking forward to seeing the Guardian lay a beating on Assassin.

I loved the scene where the Guardian stumbles across the lab full of botched Jim Harper/Paul Kirk clones at the Cadmus facility in the Twin Cities. That was a chilling scene. And the Guardian’s reaction was perfect. I dig that the Guardian took inspiration from Paul Kirk and went ahead and destroyed the Cadmus facility thereby killing all of the clones in an effort to take his humanity back.

I totally dig how Robinson pulls from DC’s Golden Age and Silver Age for this current story involving the Guardian and Cadmus. DC has such a long and storied history and a rich continuity. It is enjoyable to see DC finally taking the leash off their writers and letting them dig deep into DC’s continuity in fleshing out New Earth’s continuity.

I liked the plot twist that Harper’s “daughter” is just another clone. This continued Robinson’s running theme of Harper trying to create his own sense of humanity by manufacturing an artificial family. Harper calls the original Jim Harper his “father” even though Harper is simply a clone of the original Jim Harper. And in the end we see that Harper has completed the family circle by giving himself a “daughter” out of the young female clone of himself. This theme was well handled and added to Harper’s desperate desire to be his own entity.

Robinson ends Adventure Comics Special #1 with a solid hook ending as we see Harper and Gwendolyn arriving at Metropolis with all the Kryptonians flying in the night sky and Harper deciding that he better keep his Guardian helmet. It is clear that the Guardian is going to play an important role in the New Krypton story.

I enjoyed Pere Perez’s artwork. He delivered a fine looking issue. He has a pleasant style that made this issue enjoyable to read.

The Bad

My only complaint is that Jim Harper did not keep that sweet moustache that he was sporting through out this issue.

Overall

Adventure Comics Special #1 was a great issue that serves to pull even more readers into the New Krypton story. This issue also did a fine job of re-establishing the Guardian into a more prominent role within the DCU and giving him a role to play in the New Krypton story. With plenty of action, drama and mystery I would certainly recommend getting this issue, especially if you are following the New Krypton story on Action Comics and Superman.

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