Five heroes, united against one threat! They are… The Justice Ducks! (Neptunia reminds you that she’s not a duck, but Stegmutt wants you to know he USED to be.) Your Major Spoilers review of Justice Ducks #1 from Dynamite Entertainment awaits!
JUSTICE DUCKS #1
Writer: Rodger Langridge
Artist: Carlo Lauro
Colorist: Carlo Lauro
Letterer: Jeff Eckleberry
Editor: Nate Cosby
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: June 24, 2024
Previously in Justice Ducks: Flying saucers descend from the skies, to (maybe) wreak (possible) havoc upon the (mostly) innocent citizens of St. Canard! All that’s stopping these aggressive alien agitators is Stegmutt, Gizmoduck, Morgana, Neptunia, and (most important, in his opinion) Darkwing Duck!
A DESPERATE SITUATION
In the streets of St. Canard, Stegmutt (a gentle giant who is now a dinosaur but was once just another of the city’s ducks) is performing feats of strength for a crowd of onlookers, with proceeds to go to the local Home for Confused Goldfish. His strongman (for some values of man) routine is interrupted by the arrival of a powerful armored giant who calls himself Bah-Boo, rampaging through the city for reasons unknown. Stegmutt realizes that even his super-duckian might isn’t going to be able to handle this alone, realizing that he needs to summon his team. Of course, he has no way to do that, but news travels fast in the city. Neptunia arrives from the sea, Gizmoduck from across the bridge to Duckburg, and sorceress Morgana Macawber pops in out of nowhere. Darkwing Duck quickly arrives to take command, only to find that Neptunia has a plan.
It’s a pretty good one, too, until FOUR MORE giants arrive in a flying saucer.
A NOVEL SOLUTION
Modern comic books aren’t particularly good at all-ages stories, but I appreciate how well this one balances the expectations of a superhero comic with a story designed to appeal to and relate to kids. The fact that our heroes take the time to talk to their foes rather than just continue beating on them is one that you don’t see a lot in comic stories, and Langridge’s script is simple without being simplistic. The art of Carlo Lauro is lovely as well, emulating the animation color palette of the 1990s, while keeping everything on-model. Lauro even adds five new characters who all fit within the design standards of the DW-Verse, which isn’t always an easy prospect. Best of all, the core of the story ends up being a very relatable moment for Darkwing and the aliens, ending with a sweet family moment for our Mister Mallard.
BOTTOM LINE: THE LONER DOTH PROTEST TOO MUCH
For my money, the scene where Darkwing reveals that he has made personalized (and color-coordinated) signal devices for his four teammates is worth the price of admission alone, but Justice Ducks #1 is a great example of both a successful one-shot comic book and a successful story with appeal for readers of all ages, earning 4 out of 5 stars overall. If young readers can find this book, they will find a lot of value for their four bucks, as well as a well-done story with a heart-warming final page.
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JUSTICE DUCKS #1
This issue implies that there could be more Justice Ducks in the wings (you should excuse the expression), and given how well-written, approachable and attractive this issue is, readers should be happy about that.
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Writing8
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Art8
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Coloring8
Once upon a time, there was a young nerd from the Midwest, who loved Matter-Eater Lad and the McKenzie Brothers... If pop culture were a maze, Matthew would be the Minotaur at its center. Were it a mall, he'd be the Food Court. Were it a parking lot, he’d be the distant Cart Corral where the weird kids gather to smoke, but that’s not important right now... Matthew enjoys body surfing (so long as the bodies are fresh), writing in the third person, and dark-eyed women. Amongst his weaponry are such diverse elements as: Fear! Surprise! Ruthless efficiency! An almost fanatical devotion to pop culture! And a nice red uniform.