Review - The Doorman #1 (@HeavyMetalInk)

"My name is Henry Clay Waters, and I am the last Porter of Earth."

The universe is fully expected to be rife with plenty of beings scattered throughout. And while they may look or sound differently, it's likely there will be aspects of their culture that clash with aspects of other cultures. How those cultures intermix with one another makes for great reading and The Doorman #1 from Heavy Metal is good reading. The issue is written by Eliot Rahal and Daniel Kibblesmith and illustrated by Kendall Goode.

Henry Clay Waters is The Doorman of Earth and hasn't had an interstellar visitor in decades until...his last day on the job when an extraterrestrial assassin darkens his doorstep. Saved by the neurotic alien Detective Flower, the two must team up to solve the galaxy's biggest mystery or get killed trying!

Lending a frenetic sensibility to the story is the script by Rahal and Kibblesmith which seems to pay homage to films like Fifth Element. The characters essentially move around from location to location in a way that feels jaunty, as Rahal and Kibblesmith infuse the tale with that sense of wonder with plenty of fascinating locations to visit. The dialogue is fresh and lighthearted providing the characters with conversations that definitely seems to enjoy telling the story. Rahal and Kibblesmith successfully balance introducing the characters, building a new universe and moving the story forward without overwhelming the reader. The intent of the script is clearly to entertain and it's done so in a way that exceeds that intended goal.

Goode's artwork is a fantastic fit for the story. The characters sport looks that really help out the humor of the story by emphasizing a wide variety of looks that really make the universe feel diverse. Goode's style feels very clean and concise throughout the book, effectively showing the characters interacting with one another in ways that a few hits short of slapstick in some panels. And Goode doesn't let the panels necessarily contain the action in that the characters seem to move fluidly across the pages as if they're border on breaking the fourth wall. Additionally, the colors give the book some pep, with Goode emphasizing the zaniness with bright colors that contrast with one another extremely effectively.

The Doorman #1 is a very enjoyable romp through space with a very intriguing cast of characters. The ending offers even more suspense in that it definitely takes a turn for the unexpected--for both the characters and the reader. The script by Rahal and Kibblesmith sets out to achieve one goal in being fun and it does that in spades. Goode's artwork is vivid and bold, keeping up with the action flawlessly. The Doorman #1 has got plenty of crazy going on in its pages, but that crazy gives it plenty of adventure to follow along with.

The Doorman #1 is in stores now.