Review: Sideways #1
Quick Summary
Pros: Sideways is a great character who is easy to connect with. The adventures shown here are fun and entertaining. Future plotlines look like they have tons of potential. The artwork looks beautiful and really enhances the story.
Cons: Nothing worthwhile.
Overall: This is an incredibly optimistic start to a series with a lot of potential. It is an introduction that doesn’t feel like an introduction, with exposition coming from the conversation and artistic details instead. Plus, a charming cast and a cliffhanger ending ensure readers have a reason to come back for the next issue. If you are looking for a comic book that looks like it is just going to be pure fun all the way through, give Sideways a try.
Story
When DC’s “New Age of Heroes” was announced, the title I was most excited about was Sideways. The character had interesting powers, his attitude and age gave off Spider-Man vibes, and the creative team of Kenneth Rocafort, Dan DiDio, and Justin Jordan gave me a lot of confidence. This confidence left me hoping this would be a truly unique series and not just something to cash in on the success of Dark Nights: Metal.
Now that the first issue is out, I can officially say that my confidence has been rewarded. Sideways #1 is an exciting new series with a charming cast and an interesting storyline. Watching Derek James, aka Sideways, carelessly zip around with his powers and interact with his friends is a fun way to introduce readers to the cast and setting. Meanwhile, longer plot threads involving high school drama and intergalactic crisis guarantee that the series will continue to remain fresh in the future. Together these make a book that is both lighthearted and subtly serious in a wonderful way.
(spoilers start here)
The majority of the book is devoted to explaining who Sideways is and how he got his powers. We learn that he received his powers when Challengers Mountain appeared back in Dark Nights: Metal #1 (Review) and has been attempting to master them since then. We also are introduced to his best friend, who seems to defy social norms, and his adopted parents, who have been overprotective since the accident. Overall though, we learn that Derek is a fun-loving and seemingly agreeable person who we can easily connect to as a reader.
What really separates this comic’s introduction from any normal introduction is the way it is executed. Most comics, especially first issues, will be inundated with page after page of narration just to explain what exactly is going on. This comic only has a few brief moments of narration, most of the exposition is done through dialogue and meaningful conversation. This allows readers to simultaneously learn about the hero’s powers and his relationships, all while being entertained as well. Little structure details like this go a long way in makes a first issue more memorable and certainly helped in making this a worthwhile comic.
With introductions made and completed, the final few pages of the book are devoted to what appears to be the actual plotline this arc will follow. Sideways is zipping around the Earth, in an attempt to launch a livestreaming platform, when he is interrupted by a mysterious being telling him to stop. The issue concludes with this being stating that Sideways has disturbed space-time and has thus been sentenced to death. It a completely unexpected move that instantly opens up the series to an array of possibilities, each more intense than the last. It is also a fantastic way to close an issue and build up reader excitement for whatever is coming up next.
(spoilers end here)
Art
I’ve been a big fan of Kenneth Rocafort for a while now and this issue only seeks to confirm my appreciation for his work. Rocafort’s pencils and inks create a world full of detail where exposition and character development can be gleaned from a character’s clothing or a simple look around the room. Not to mention that all of these details are also incredibly creative; character designs and backgrounds are all unique and help build the world in which our character lives. When paired with Daniel Brown’s colors, this is a beautiful looking book that any comic reader will be able to appreciate.
Continuity
Sideways #1 is the first issue in a brand new series from DC Comics. Thus far, Sideways has not appeared in any DC Comic so his origin and history can all be seen in this initial issue.
The story started here will continue in Sideways #2.
This issue also makes a reference to another comic book, detailed below:
- There are a few references to the Dark Nights: Metal series, specifically to the appearance of Challengers Mountain in Dark Nights: Metal #1 (Review).