Written by William Katt; Derek McCaw; & Christopher Falino (based upon Stephen J. Cannell’s pilot episode)
Art by Clint Hilinski; Jeff Jumper; Rebecca Maiden; & Salvador Mancha
Cover Art by Clint Hilinski
SUMMARY:
Released in 2008 as a three-part mini-series by Arcana Comics and Catastrophic Comics, this standard-length issue adapts the 1981 Greatest American Hero pilot episode into the present-day.
Isolated in the Southern California desert, high school teacher Ralph Hinkley and veteran FBI Special Agent Bill Maxwell are mysteriously left an alien super-suit to put to good use … as a team. After being abruptly dismissed by Maxwell, Ralph accidently loses the suit’s instruction manual. Elsewhere, a nefarious religious cult posing as a high-profile children’s charity schemes to harm the U.S. President. Upon failing a polygraph test at work, Maxwell forces a second private encounter with Ralph. Attempting to quickly reach a student’s Juvenile Court hearing, Ralph resorts to drastic measures. Awaiting him is a female public defender, Pamela Davidson, who may well change his life.
REVIEW:
Not only should the nostalgia potential be off the charts, The Greatest American Hero seem a natural for comic book adaptation. The reality, however, is a rudimentary product. Of this issue’s assets, the adapted script (i.e. this Ralph evidently isn’t a divorced dad) is okay. Keeping it kid-friendly, William Katt’s writing team packs a few contemporary surprises as compensation for not replicating the show’s humorous charm. A solid cover image adds some luster, too. Yet, nothing can hide the disappointing interior artwork, as the glossy pages are mostly minor-league visuals. Sporting reasonable likenesses of Katt, Connie Sellecca, and Robert Culp (which was likely a creative priority), the considerable drop-off pertains more to how deliberately generic the other characters are presented. The ultra-simplistic, if not crude, background details only further exacerbate this issue’s amateurish look.
In terms of a keepsake loaded with good intentions, the rare Greatest American Hero # 2 is worth holding on to. Despite its flaws, there are still hints that Ralph Hinkley could be a viable comic book sensation.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
The front inside cover is an endorsement from series creator/producer Stephen J. Cannell. The back inside cover provides a message and thank-you’s from series star William Katt.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 4 Stars
