My thoughts on Knuckleheads #1 to #3

Knuckleheads #1 to #3

Writer: Brian Winkeler

Art By: Robert Wilson IV

Colours: Jordan Boyd

Letters: Thomas Mauer

What happens when you let a lay about, video game playing, tv watching, pizza eating, slob get implanted with some sort of jagged crystal knuckle duster that channels the power of “The Crystal Light”. Well you get Trevor K Trevinski . We are introduced to Trevor as he goes about what is clearly his usual day to day life this new found power from the crystal attached to his knuckles only used to cheat on Video Games and get free Netflix, seeing as I would probably have done exactly the same thing I like how Trevor thinks. The sidekick position seems to have been taken up by Trevor’s roommate Lance who, as most would, questions why on earth would aliens give this power to a bum like his friend. Also we get introduced, who I at first only thought of as being an extra, to the Pizza Guy. There is great chemistry between these three characters.

Knucklehead isn’t your usual super hero comic; in fact I am not sure it contains a Super Hero. Why do I say this? Well Trevor is only led to help the city against the giant Godzilla like alien invader because it cuts the power to his apartment, therefore not allowing him to carry on mooching about and playing video games. The moment he confronts the monster he immediately scarpers like the coward he is, well at least until he realises there is a damsel in distress and once again this is no heroic act other than an opportunity to save a sexy lady. Whether meant or not when reading this I felt that the support cast are the real heroes helping to point Trevor in the right direction in turn creating this unconventional hero. It is the supporting cast that gave me many of my favourite moments, Lance’s evil glare of hatred at Trevor, the Pizza Guys explanation for being late with the pizza when Trevor was trying to get the pizza for free, to when it turns out the Pizza Guy carries around both pepper spray and condoms, enter improvised mace grenade with the line “Go, Condom, Go!” Out of these two characters it is Lance who does more of the pushing of his friend towards the heroic path, also clearly showing Lance would have been a much better host for this crystal knuckle.

Inevitably Trevor rises to the occasion, unlocking the power of his crystal knuckle duster who would have thought he could fly? and beats the monster saving the Damsel in Distress and in turn the city he lives in. Is this his trigger point to become a hero? Well we won’t find out till next issue but clearly this was the most exercise Trevor had done in some time as the moment clearly took its toll on him throwing up on the woman he had just saved and collapsing much to my amusement as I am sure once you throw up all over a woman your chances of getting lucky are incredible low. What adventures will these characters be moving on to? That’s not quite clear but there is one thing for sure there will be pancakes.

Brian Winkeler does a great job of writing a relatable character giving a realistic view of what many would do if they suddenly received this power, I mean without that Uncle Ben moment or your Parents being murdered in an alley what reason do you have to become a hero? Brian incorporates some fun pop culture reference, the video game obsessed hero channelling his power through a Wii remote is a favourite of mine. Let’s not forget the art from Robert Wilson IV, this is the first work of his I have seen and teaming up with colourist Jordan Boyd the duo create some great visuals and action packed scenes. The use of panelling is done great to pace the story from the big panels containing action scenes to the smaller panels following conversations. Incorporating several of the sound effects for the ensuing action into the scene’s is great from the “KRASH” to the “SPLOSH”. The colours from Jordan Boyd really helping to bring Wilson VI’s art further to life, with the constant reminder of the destruction on my mind with the oranges and dots of yellow on the horizon, the fires throughout the city caused by the battle. There is also a great little 2 page look at how they came up with the covers from Robert, explaining how they came up with the first cover plus the logo. How to make a digital comic stand out in that small stamp on a page full of many others, described by Wilson VI the stamp sized image shows everything they needed to say about the hero in Knuckleheads “bathrobe, superpowers, pizza, pants optional!” and I agree.

I really enjoyed these three issues and whether you think Trevor is a hero or not, Trevor, Lance and Pizza Guy really make a great team, and they make for one funny comic and one fun heroic adventure. Three issues in, alien beaten and clearly the cast set up I truly hope that they keep these 3 dudes together and something tells me we will see more of the damsel in distress.