PopCultHQ Comic Book Review: 'CAPTAIN KID' #3 from AfterShock Comics

PopCultHQ received a preview copy of CAPTAIN KID #3 from AfterShock Comics. Hitting newsstands this New Comic Book Day (NCBD), Wednesday, December 14th, the creative team for this series features writing from Mark Waid and Tom Peyer, cover and interior art by Wilfredo Torres, colorist Kelly Fitzpatrick, and lettering by A Larger World.

Here’s our spoiler-free look at the third issue of this week’s new release from AfterShock Comics…

Synopsis for CAPTAIN KID #3:

Writers: Mark Waid, Tom Peyer
Artist: Wilfredo Torres
Colorist: Kelly Fitzpatrick
Cover Artist: Wilfredo Torres

Attacked from the future! At odds with his mentor! Abducted through time! In the chaos of his centuries-long birthday, Captain Kid unearths the dangerous secret of his origin!

PopCultHQ’s Comic Book Review:
CAPTAIN KID #3

Captain Kid. A different kind of superhero. A better kind of superhero?

Chris Vargas, otherwise known as Captain Kid (but sshhh, don’t tell), reveals more of who he is in issue three. Not just divulging more about his powers, but who Vargas was and is as a person aside from his superhero persona. It’s a touching reflection that made me empathize with our protagonist. Captain, you had me at “Grow up. Be young.”

I’ve been a fan of writer Mark Waid ever since his collaboration with artist Alex Ross in 1996 on Kingdom Come. He is what I consider a clever writer. His choice of words is clever and smart. The humor is clever. Waid and fellow co-creator Tom Peyer have brilliantly combined to share a more grounded superhero story; relatable, authentic, and original. With Waid, you can be assured that each story is methodically laid out, giving you always the right amount of enticement in the narrative and enjoyment in its progression to grab your attention and have you craving for more. I want more Captain Kid!

Artist Wilfredo Torres adds a fun factor in his illustrations. In panels with comedic dialogue, his drawings elaborate the intended humor (whether obviously or subtly). Kelly Fitzpatrick has a gift for showing the importance, nay the significance, of a good colorist to build on the writers’ vision and the artist’s interpretation. The Torres/Fitzpatrick team-up give Captain Kid a great feel and the lettering from A Larger World is clean and the caption boxes are some of the sharpest in the business. They definitely help complete the overall package for this title.

PopCultHQ’s overall assessment:

If you haven’t given Captain Kid a look yet, thankfully it’s still early since its inception that you can jump in for the superhero/time travel mature readers series.

Writers Waid and Peyer have an entertaining story in Captain Kid. The interior dialog by Chris “Captain Kid” Vargas made the 43-year old in me chuckle out loud, as I have while reading the first two issues as well. It’s a superhero story for adults, but not pushing the “comic for adults” all up-in-your-face. There are tongue-in-cheek moments in this series. You understand the feelings and complexities of these characters. It screams out to the inner child in all of us seeking to be something greater than ourselves. AfterShock has a hidden gem in today’s sea full of cubic zirconia superhero titles. Add Captain Kid to your pull list, along with what is likely becoming a high percentage of AfterShock titles.