A review of Top Cow’s brand new comic Twilight Guardian before it hits stores tomorrow. Is it worth your money?

Pilot Season: Twilight Guardian #1
Cover: Hendry Prasetyo
Writer: Troy Hickman
Artist: Reza
Summary: “She’s the hero who could be you! Eisner nominee Troy Hickman (Common Grounds) brings you more of his unique view of the superhero genre, with stunning artwork by Reza. Enter the world of the Twilight Guardian and the nine-block area she patrols each night, a world of everyday intrigue, brown and green gargantuas, marital aids, and yes, donut shops. Superheroics meets slice-of-life as you’ve never seen before!”

It’s Top Cow’s Battle of the Comics. May premieres the comics Twilight Guardian and Lady Pendragon; June will feature Alibi and Genius; July will showcase Urban Myths and The Core. “Six books! Two spots!” Does Twilight Guardian stand a chance against five other comics? Well …

Probably not. The art on the cover, for one thing, is nothing like the artwork inside. I didn’t particularly like it. What I did like, however, was the subtle humor and comic book spoofs meshed throughout the issue. In fact, the only art I enjoyed was when the main character was browsing through old comics. Okay, okay, let me back up.

The main protagonist calls herself the Twilight Guardian. Basically the whole comic is told in a journal-esque style, with the TG documenting her nightly patrols. Kind of like Batman’s records, but lamer. Pretty much, she’s a Guardian of a suburban neighborhood—yeah, it’s not that impressive. Even though the plot is disappointing (I kept waiting and waiting for something to happen, but no go), her failure as a nocturnal “superhero” (all she really does is don a mask—don’t they have standards anymore?) is a fun contrast against the stereotypical superhero. It’s a more realistic approach, if you will, to the life of a superhero.

I mean, what if Gotham suddenly ran out of mob bosses and psychotic villains like the Joker? Would Batman be forced to stop purse-snatchers for the rest of his days? Way to kill the dramatic effect, that’s for sure. Twilight Guardian takes that scenario and brings it to the (if you will) light. Because sometimes there’s just no criminal activity to interrupt. For example, the only potential “tension” comes from a shiftily parked car she keeps spotting—until one night the TG realizes it’s just two teenagers making out. Even though the protagonist puts a lot of energy and dedication into “crime-fighting” … there’s never actually any justice to be served—despite what she keeps telling herself. Lady Justice is off eating Cheetos and watching reruns on tv somewhere because there’s no need for her anymore.

There were a bunch of comic references conveniently in disguise throughout the comic (the Fantastic Four, X-men, etc.) that channeled old comic nostalgia. And I’m talking when Nazis were super villains and war propaganda littered every page, folks—and it was just funny. Unfortunately, that was the only real excitement. The TG is really just a superhero wannabe. And even though it was proving a point to what Twilight Guardian is about, it’s just kind of a letdown. Hopefully with any upcoming issues things will heat up; if there’s nothing by the end of issue two, I wouldn’t hold my breath.

Would I pay four bucks for this premiere issue? Pfft, no way. But I might consider jumping in at least after issue two to see if things progressed. Troy Hickman could have something really worthwhile here if it’s done right, as the storyline concept is both original and smart.

You can check out the preview at Comic Book Resources. Thanks again to Top Cow for the advanced copy! WITA out. ;D