REVIEW: 'The Pedestrian' #1 by Joey Esposito, Sean Von Gorman, and Josh Jensen

 

THE PEDESTRIAN #1

Writer: Joey Esposito

Artist: Sean Von Gorman, Josh Jensen

Letters: Shawn Lee

Publisher: Magma

Release Date: August 7, 2024

Cover Price: $3.99

Behold, The Pedestrian! A strange visitor speedwalks into Summer City and silently changes the lives of its residents. But not all is quiet in this sleepy, small town-an ancient conflict linked to the secret history of street signs is brewing! DON'T WALK... RUN! In The Pedestrian, justice always has the right of way!

Writer Joey Esposito (Batman: Urban Legends) reunites with Pawn Shop collaborator, artist Sean Von Gorman (Batman Beyond), for an offbeat tale that will stick with you!

Score:

★★★1/2 (3.5/5)

'The Pedestrian' #1 by Joey Esposito, Sean Von Gorman, and Josh Jensen is a charming, intriguing, and peculiar comic. It's peculiar in the best ways. Much like a quirky indie film, 'The Pedestrian' has a unique perspective that sort of subverts what we know about things like heroes. Some fly, some are extremely strong, and some can shoot lasers, but what if someone returned your lost wallet, or helped you parallel park? Those could be seen as heroic acts. For the silent man in an all-white suit only known as The Pedestrian, his kind acts reveal something else is going on in Summer City.

Esposito makes clear that Summer City isn't for everyone. It swallows up its residents, trapped in a sleepy small town with little future. One such youth crosses paths with The Pedestrian and a chain of events begins to take place. What it all means remains a mystery but this first issue has enough charm and mystery to deserve further reading. 

Von Gorham and Jensen create a rich and colorful setting with great character designs, panel choices, and brisk pacing. The grounded environs of this small town make the sight of a man in a white hooded unitard all the more ridiculous but when you think about it, how is that different than any other superhero in spandex you've ever seen. It's that added sense of absurdity that adds to the issue's appeal and fascination. 

'The Pedestrian' is unlike any hero comic you've read.  You could say he's a silent guardian, a watchful protector. There's a sense of wonder at the root of the story that reminds us what makes a hero worth rooting for. Quirky and mysterious, 'The Pedestrian' has a lot to offer and it's just getting started.