What's Fun About This Book
Super Secret Crisis War! is a six-part, crossover event beginning with "Super Secret Crisis War #1," which also leads into a series of one-shots featuring other Cartoon Network characters. As advertised, it will be "6 Months of Cosmic Crossover Calamity!" Issue no. 1 did not disappoint. It was a fun, quick read; and was also worth my time. I really enjoyed the writing as well as the art. There is actually a Cover A (featuring the heroes) and a Cover B (featuring the villains) that when one puts them together side-by-side they show the ensuing battle between the two factions. In many ways, Super Secret Crisis War! pays homage to the multiple stories and tropes found in event books across publishers and comic book history, especially the Big Two. At the same time, it accomplishes what IDW and Cartoon Network set out to do for its fans and that's bring many of their fan-favorite characters together into the same universe and do so in a big way.
The notion of pulling together cartoon characters from varied universes on the same cable network channel is genius, but not original. This sounds like an oxymoron so let me explain. The genius here is that IDW and Cartoon Network (with the help of a creative team that includes veteran Louise Simonson and artist Derek Charm) have taken what has been an exhausted trope in comic books (particularly by the Big Two) and have crafted a well thought out, hilarious take on the "crossover gimmick..." er... I mean "...event." We've got Samurai Jack. Ben 10. The Power Puff Girls. Dexter from Dexter's Laboratory. Ed, Edd N' Eddy. Wait a minute. Ed, Edd N' Eddy? Yes, and I was amused by how they were brought into this conflict. There's a lesson to be learned here about scrap metal, jawbreakers and the misadventure associated between the two. Moreover, we've got each hero's respective arch-nemeses of arcane assignments arranging a sinister, synchronous plot to silence each of them and conquer their worlds. Whew! That was a mouth-full.
If you enjoy comic books and have enjoyed watching these cartoons on Cartoon Network in the past or perhaps currently, then you'll really enjoy this book. Simonson really captured each character's voice in her writing. It figures because she's also a fan of them herself, having fell in love with the cartoons earlier on. The title is poignant and hilarious in and of itself. Todd Rowker over at Longbox Heroes has mentioned a true-legend on past podcasts of how in the 80's a certain comic book company surveyed kids to find out what words got their attention the most. More often than not the two words that got kids attention the most were "secret" and "war;" thus followed a certain event book from that certain comic book company. Fast-forward 30 years and we've got perhaps four of those words on the cover of one book! Comic gold!
What's Not So Fun
Not sure is this book will be accessible to readers unfamiliar with the characters. Overall, that's unneccessary. A good book is a good book, and kids will love it. There was a nostalgia factor involved for me that helped push the sale of this book. There was a time when I actually watched many of these cartoons, especially Dexter's Laboratory. Will I go out and pay money for the one-shots? Probably not. I'm not as invested in the other characters because I haven't watched the shows. Johnny Bravo is the exception. Does this mean that others won't see this book as a launch pad for watching the cartoons in syndication or rotation on the network? No it doesn't. It's good, market advertising and IDW/Cartoon Network knows this. I would have loved to see I Am Weasel along with The Justice Friends in this book. Perhaps including Major Glory, The Infraggable Krunk, and Valhallen from the latter would have caused some major problems with a certain comic book company. Oh well.
The Punch-Line
Super Secret Crisis War! is the start of a good thing. It's fun, witty and action-filled. The book is kid-friendly, and the art is fantastic! Perhaps I'll check out IDW's current run of Samurai Jack as a result of reading issue no. 1 of an excellent crossover event.
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