Doctor Tomorrow #1: For A Brighter Tomorrow!

Doctor Tomorrow is an excellent dive into a new corner of the Valiant universe as bright, energetic and intriguing as the bluntly heroic title implies!

In a time when classic superhero stories are somehow exceptionally rare, Doctor Tomorrow delivers the vibes and then some. The bombastic introductions of Doctor Tomorrow and Hadrian are expertly counterbalanced by the humbling yet relatable experience meeting young Bart Simms. The interesting part is the struggle we see within him as he tries to balance achievement, anger, sadness and responsibility the ups and downs of being a teenager in modern America. What will really get ya is when you realize why was it important to show this internal conflict? Is it just to make Bart Simms more relatable? Is it to show some potential trouble with Doctor Tomorrow’s motives and bravado? What’s more, the solid twist ending ensuring plenty of drama and weirdness to follow: just who is Hadrian? Is Doctor Tomorrow what he seems? How will the introduction of a real Multiverse change the game for Valiant comics across the board?

So, so, so many questions prompted by this debut issue. Alejandro Arbano and Jim Towe open up this new chapter of Valiant history in such an explosive yet intriguing manner it’s hard to imagine how anyone wouldn’t be at the edge of their seat wondering what comes next.

Oh and can we talk about the beautiful aesthetic of Jim Towe’s art here? It’s perfectly fitted for a retro superhero action adventure but at the same time still has the grit where it needs it. In a medium full of grim dark edginess Towe shows that you can drop some optimism filled art and still tell a story with depth and teeth to it.