Captain Midnight Vol. 1: On the Run TP
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: February 5, 2014
Price: $14.99
Creator(s): Joshua Williamson (writer) and Fernando Dagnino (artist)
Format: 120 pgs., Full-Color, Trade Paperback
ISBN: 978-1-6065-5229-9
Age Rating: N/A
ICv2 Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
 
This adaptation of the old radio, television and comics character selectively draws things from different aspects of the old Captain Midnight stories.  For example, the Otto Binder version for Fawcett Comics made him a supreme inventor, whereas the earlier radio shows focused on his skill as a pilot, and the secret organization he ran, often under orders from the U.S. government.  This version merges the two, but skips the idea that Captain Midnight was old enough to have been a pilot in World War One.  Another thing kept was the treatment of women as interesting characters in their own right, not just as femme fatales or victims.
 
What may limit the audience is that it's taken a pulp fiction-style character and moved him into the present day.  This "fish out of water" concept is difficult to achieve and maintain, especially when it requires an inventor from the 1940s to be conversant in technology of 70+ years in his future. As the story progresses, this begins to strain credibility.
 
The story is a setup for an ongoing series, though, and introduces a good cast of characters.  The artwork is convincing, even the heroic poses, and the reader quickly realizes that Captain Midnight is an experienced soldier, not a superhero.
 
Teens and adults may enjoy this, but some teens may need a history refresher.
 
--Nick Smith: Library Technician, Community Services, for the Pasadena Public Library in California