Shield of the Interceptor #1 Written by Brandon Easton Art by Russ Leach and Michael Summers

Comic book origins are tried and true and exhaustive. The market is regularly oversaturated with first issues and reboots that dwell too long on a character’s origins without exploring the true depth of that character. It’s tiresome. It always boils down to the same formula, where the titular character or their people suffers a great tragedy which compels them by chance or by purpose to put on the tights and defend their homeland. Twelve pages of a twenty-page book shouldn’t be spent explaining a formula which the reader already knows. Interceptor gave it three panels and in doing so became a breath of fresh air.

The world of the Interceptor is fully-realized from the very beginning and doesn’t just dip the readers’ toes into the water of its lore. The story begins and the very first page drags the narrative into the conflict at superhuman speeds. Despite entering at this “middle point” of the story, enough time is taken with the fledgling hero for the reader to answer whatever pressing questions they might have about his motives or his credibility. Brandon Easton expects his reader to trust in his delivery, to trust that their questions will be answered without the typical walk down origin lane. That structural investment pays off. The story becomes magnetic with every turn of the page, until the reader is following the Interceptor’s every move as intensely as the mystic shield which he hurls around the battlefield.

The art of any singular panel of the Interceptor is pretty commonfare. The fluidity between those panels however is where the comic shines. Transitions are well-executed and the action is smooth. Various powers and weapons are translated uniquely on each page. Still, where the art excels above even that is in its character design. The modern setting is supplemented with villains that seem torn from a tabletop RPG, from the cloaked antagonist on his woodland throne to the supernatural consciousness which inhabits the hero’s shield. Russ Leach and Michael Summers illuminate the dim corners of this intriguing world with a masterful clash of fantastic past against modern realism. While there are a few instances of strange anatomical positioning, they’re quickly overshadowed and therefore forgiven.

Shield of the Interceptor #1 is an origin story unburdened by the typical “Wayne family fatigue.” This is how all debut issues should be handled, especially on independent platforms. The world is tangible, the story is focused, the characters are interesting and understood; if there were a checklist for new properties in the comic book medium, Interceptor would have ticked every box with a confident whirl of its shield. While there were a few instances where word balloons could have been better placed, the art remained strong throughout and the exposition contained therein was always strong enough for the poor positioning to be ignored. Easton, Leach and Summers tread into the Interceptor without fear. Any reader willing to trust these creators in their craft will be well-rewarded with a new and exciting comic book world that is sure to only grow more prosperous in its follow-up issues.

Final Score: 7 out of 10 capes