Pop Mythology Pop Mythology: Movie, Book, Comic reviews & commentary
There are the guys like Greg Pincus, who are just in the wrong place at the wrong time.
IDW’s Indestructible is a comedy of errors. It’s a predictable formula for the comic world: insert reluctant hero, poke fun at the whole superhero concept and make covert references to recognizable comic characters from other creators. However, it works because we all know Greg.
He’s a relatable character who every slightly insecure and basically good-natured guy can identify with. Artist Jay Garron, reinforces this notion by unintentionally (?) drawing Greg to resemble Simon Pegg, one of the most memorable reluctant heroes in recent pop culture. Greg gets dumped on by his family by remarking how special an occasion it is for him to have a date; he gets dumped by said date and then runs into trouble that initiates his “origin” story. Basically, he gets shot – and how many superheroes begin their origin stories like that?
Greg’s basically a good character who people seem to think of as a superhero – when he’s not. He even has an annoying and socially reprehensible roommate (who also seems to have the same girth and manners as Simon Pegg’s sidekick, Nick Frost) who prompts him to continue the masquerade for all the material rewards he thinks it will bring. It’s a twisted parody of a superhero’s origin issue and therein lies the crux of the story.
Writer Jeff Kline has given us a taste of what Indestructible can promise, but like poor Greg’s date, it still leaves us a bit wanting. There is a change in Greg’s fortune that gives us an idea of what lies ahead in future issues, but it’s not fully explored by the presence of some backstory elements that obviously have to be developed. They’re clearly there for a purpose, but like any other origin story, the focus should be more on developing the main character. We see too much of these other elements, but not enough of them to gain a sense of their relevance. We need more of a reason to get to know Greg and these other elements that just doesn’t fully come out in a first issue.
I liked Indestructible. I love Simon Pegg-like characters – especially since I feel like too much of one sometimes! I’m sure other readers will too, and that’s the charm in this story. It’s about a character that has crazy stuff happen to him and who is simply trying to figure out how to deal with it. Those make for the best stories. I also liked the little pokes at some of Marvel’s premiere characters like the womanizing Human Torch, the reviled X-Men or even the typical hero team motif, like DC Comics’ Justice League.
It’s not a bad start. It’s an example of the breadth of creative flexibility and exploration IDW is known for and definitely something that has a lot of promise. It turns the whole concept of being in the wrong place at the wrong time into something relevantly entertaining for the superhero world. It reminds us that superhero stories can be fun.
I’ll definitely try to be at my local comic shop at the right time to pick up issue #2.
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