What would you do if you were down on your luck and suddenly found yourself with the power to change your situation? That’s what happens to Roger Dalton in The Schlub #1 by Image Comics!

THE SCHLUB #1

Writer: Ryan Stegman and Kenny Porter
Artist: Tyrell Cannon 
Colorist: Mike Spicer 
Letterer: John J. Hill 
Editor: Eric Stephenson 
Publisher: Image Comics 
Cover Price: $3.99 
Release Date: August 23rd, 2023   

Previously in The Schlub: “Failing dentist Roger Dalton blames the world for his problems until he is body-swapped with the world’s greatest superhero. Can Roger save Earth and finally prove to his family he’s not a loser? Or are we all doomed?” – Image Solicitation

The Schlub #1 starts with a dentist taking a phone call while working with a patient. He complains to his ex-wife about his woes involving his brother and laments that he is late on payments. His wife tries to convince him to stop playing the victim as Roger tries to push an expensive bill on the customer without giving the patient time to think it through. Suddenly, Cirrus, an interstellar superhero, breaks through his building, fighting Wyrm, the Master of the Dark. They are fighting over a dangerous object that ends up in Roger’s hand. Roger activates the artifact and switches bodies with Cirrus, finding himself in the middle of a perilous fight. Roger can barely get Wyrm to retreat and keep everyone slightly safe.

Later, Cirrus tells Roger that he needs to respect that body, as it is a dangerous weapon. He will investigate the object and see if they can switch back, encouraging Roger to keep his head low. Roger has other plans and decides to enact revenge on his brother for his perceived injustice.

I can’t tell who Roger Dalton is at his core. Some of the things he says in The Schlub #1 make perfect sense, and then he does something that crosses my moral line. I think about people who can’t take responsibility for their actions and compare it to actual injustice, and I can’t grasp which person Roger Dalton is. Is he just a selfish person? What is his relationship with his ex-wife and brother? Due to this ambiguity, I am engaged. But this engagement isn’t based on a connection to the character; it’s how every other character reacts to the protagonist, which is an intriguing concept. However, without actual character development, I’m uncertain if this engagement is enough to hold my attention for an entire series.

The art in this book is excellent. I like the details in the character design and the dynamic coloring. It feels like an older style rather than the smoother modern interpretations of comics. The creative team has done a great job balancing the characters’ power and combining it with a slightly cartoonish feel of comics.

I like The Schlub #1, and I’m unsure why that is the case. Roger Dalton isn’t a likable character, yet I want to know more about all he will do with his newfound power. How will it affect the people around him? I hope this idea is strong enough to carry the comic or we get a deeper dive into Roger as a character. Regardless, The Schlub #1 is 3.5 out of 5 stars, and I’ll follow this series closely.

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The Schlub #1

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On the Fence

The Schlub #1 introduces a character you aren't sure you're supposed to like and follows his interactions with the world.

• Writing

  6
• Art

  8
• Coloring

  8
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