Review - The Mighty Crusaders #1 (@DrkCircleComics)

"That was the scene in the nation's capital today as the Crusaders stopped a homicidal dinosaur."

Every good superhero needs a team. One superhero is only capable of so much, so teaming up only makes sense to help them cover any shortcomings they may have. In The Mighty Crusaders #1 from Dark Circle Comics, that team is tasked with fighting evil and the press. The issue is written by Ian Flynn, illustrated by Kelsey Shannon, colored by Matt Herms and lettered by Jack Morelli.

There's something happening over at Archie Comics. It's a new title they call The Mighty Crusaders, and they're giving us a 4-page sneak peek at the book before it hits the comic shops this December! Get ready to see a no-holds-barred throw-down with a prehistoric terror in the heart of Washington D.C., which sets the stage for the dramatic return of a wayward hero!

There's certainly no shortage of superhero team-up stories out there, but Flynn does some things slightly different in The Mighty Crusaders #1 that give it a little bit of uniqueness. The first part of the issue is spent with various members of the team fighting a dinosaur and Flynn does well in introducing each character to the reader. There's a team dynamic there for sure, but Flynn also brings along conflict by dropping certain characters on both the reader and the rest of the Mighty Crusaders. In a way, Flynn is setting up the stakes for the series by tapping into a marketability mentality when it comes to the Mighty Crusaders, offering dialogue that supports the notion that perception is reality. By embracing the notion that a team of superheroes have to save the day and actually look good doing it, Flynn adds a hook into the 24/7 news cycle the world currently exists in.

Shannon's artwork is pretty gorgeous to look at. The no-muss linework is straightforward and gives Shannon plenty of room to play around with the character designs, ensuring that each character has a look that matches their personality. The variety of insets and overlays keeps up with the action nicely, which works well for Shannon considering that most of the issue is a knockdown, drag-out brawl. Herms relies on a color palette that's extremely bright and vivid, allowing the characters' costumes to have a sufficient amount of pop. And Morelli's lettering is a nice nod to comics of old, emphasizing the intensity of the battle through various sound effects and differing font types.

The Mighty Crusaders #1 is a nice throwback to a different era in comics that still feels modernized. Victoria Adams (aka The Shield) is tasked with leading the titular group against enemies that challenge them--both physically and mentally. Flynn's script is easy and straightforward, effectively giving the reader all the information they need to know what's going on. Shannon's illustrations are clean and simple, evoking a different era in comics. The Mighty Crusaders #1 is a lot of fun as far as first issues go, if for nothing else because the team is squaring off against a vindictive dinosaur.

The Mighty Crusaders #1 is available December 6.