Sideways #1 from DC Comics -
Derek James is a high-school sophomore with a secret. He and his mother were in Gotham at ground zero when a huge mountain emanating a strange energy fell from a rift in the sky and nearly split the city in two. In that moment, Derek fell through a tear in the Earth, falling, spiraling, hurtling into an unknown place where he was bathed in the mountain's energy until he finally fell back on Earth. Now, Derek can create small rifts in space-time and go anywhere he wants. With the help of his friend and fellow social outcast, Ernestine, Derek has gotten himself a cool new disguise and is ready to go from social outcast to superhero super-stardom on the internet. But Derek's precious plans come to a crashing halt when a hulking alien shows up to inform Derek that he is a threat to the universe's existence and for that, he has been...SENTENCED TO DEATH!!
Dan DiDio and Justin Jordan pen this fun, classic superhero origin story, Sideways #1. DiDio and Jordan don't waste any time and get right to it - the very first time that we even see Derek, our protagonist, he's already in his superhero costume. From there, in the short 20 pages of this comic (plagued by way too many ads), we are introduced to our guy's backstory, his superhero origin story, his family, his (small) social circle, the challenges of his everyday life, and what just may turn out to be his arch-nemesis, or not. Who knows? The point is that DiDio and Jordan made a herculean and very effective effort to make this character really interesting, and very likable, rather quickly. Derek is an adopted kid with doting parents who is just trying to figure life out and get through another day. His superpowers have hit him unexpectedly and given him the opportunity to actually feel like he matters. Of course, he's trying to be a social media juggernaut, and course, he'd choose to use a mask - he loves his parents and he'd never want any harm to come to them, nor to his bestie, Ernestine. The world may see a bit of a slacker and a bit of carelessness in Derek, but I see a kid who just wants to matter and take care of those he loves. He just hasn't figured it all out yet. I dig that. I remember being that kid. Kenneth Rocafort lays down some pretty sketchy, kinetic work that is well complemented by Daniel Brown's vivid colors. Rocafort's design for Sideways is a bit Spider-Man-y, which is not off-putting, but rather intriguing. Will this kid be the DCU's answer to Spider-Man? Could be. I wouldn't mind that. All in all, Sideways #1 was a fun, fast, read that captured and held my attention and sparked my imagination. I was annoyed when I got to the last page; I wanted more. And that's how I know that this book has serious potential. Looks like Sideways will be opening a new rift...One that leads right to my pull-list.
RATING: 9 out 10.
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