HUNTER’S FORTUNE #1: It’s no secret that BOOM! Studios develops titles that, if not straight up movie pitches, have the distinct feel or potential of being turned into movies. Sometimes this, works, sometimes it doesn’t, but the new title Hunter’s Fortune (out today) definitely strikes the BOOM! balance just right.

Hunter is a regular joe down on his luck: he’s evicted from his apartment, his car is towed, and his best friend is an annoying jerk. That last part doesn’t go away, but the rest of his problems are instantly solved once he magically inherits his long-lost uncle’s fortune, as well as house, stables, cars, and sexy assistant. There’s just one catch: in order to keep the loot, he has to find Excalibur.

Look, we’re not breaking new ground here, it’s pretty much every other “guy inherits a fortune with a catch” story, and the first half of this issue plays pretty much like the rushed first half of that type of movie. The second half is where it really gets going, takes time to create some fun character moments, dashes of mystery and intrigue, and more than that, starts to feel like a comic. Not only that, but a comic I’m going to enjoy reading over the course of the next three issues (its a mini).

There’s something to be said, actually, for having a story that meets our expectations. Taking old paradigms and remixing them for a modern era is pleasing in the way its pleasing to hear Superman’s origin told over and over. These particular tropes are satisfying for a reason, and Caleb Monroe and Andrew Cosby make it work for them, rather than pretending this type of tale has never been told before.

Matt Cossin provides pencils, and has a fun, cartoony style that keeps things light. His layouts are well paced and cinematic… A “cross-cut” scene towards the end of the book in particular strikes that movie/comic balance just right. The feel is reminiscent of Gabriel Rodriguez’s work on Locke & Key, though it doesn’t quite hit the heights of that particular book (not that anyone asked it to).

This is a light, fun adventure that moves well, and if the rest of the series follows the model of the second half of the book, we’re in for a fun romp. I’m definitely on board.