Being new to the Legenderry series from Dynamite I wasn't quite sure what to expect. After reading the Red Sonja entry I was sold. The steampunk universe makes for a fun adventure with characters you know in a totally new landscape. Legenderry: Green Hornet #1 is no less fun and is actually funnier than I anticipated.
Daryl Gregory cleverly establishes this world through its villains. Rival mobs looking for dominance in Undertown pitting a new generation of thugs on course to take down the Veiled Lady who's running things. Or so they think. There's a little bit of a Gangs of New York feel to the issue especially the street fight and it shows that anything can and will happen in this series.
That leads to the Green Hornet and Kato. At first they're more observers than participants in this power struggle that takes place. The mysterious and inquisitive Mr. Grimes asking all sorts of dubious questions to Britt Reid about being introduced to "other organizations" in town. Reid's a wise-cracking charmer but he's not about to help Grimes in whatever he's up to especially if it involves the Veiled Lady.
Of course GH and Kato do get involved and this is where Brent Peeples takes off as well. The big bold panels with the signature over-the-top steampunk aesthetic in guns to vehicles are displayed, or rather splashed, onto the page with help from Michael Bartolo's colors. It's a dizzying array of frenetic energy and wide shots as the gangs go to war and GH and Kato unleash an airship with missiles. An airship with missiles!
Legenderry: Green Hornet #1 is a light-hearted affair with an edge. As humorous as it is a guy still gets his throat slashed. It's a wild adventure that's built a strong foundation with warring factions and Green Hornet and Kato caught in the middle. Steampunk has provided a fresh new canvas for these classic heroes and made them fun and accessible again. Dynamite has another fun series on their hands.
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