Quantum and Woody #3: Super Ghouls & Ghosts

Quantum and Woody is the golden standard for comedic action comics on the shelf right now. Straight up. I’m just starting this off by laying that down so if you don’t make it past this sentence ya got no one to blame but yourself for missing out. This is what you will not get from the “Big 2”, various breeds of comedy intertwined in just one book that never once detracts from or cheapens the more gritty, story building elements of the book.

It’s almost impossible to dissect what element really hits it home because the writing of Hastings, the quirky art of Browne, the perfected palette choices of Redmond and the best lettering work of any comic in years from Otsmane-Elhaou, crafts the perfect storm. Each person brings a strong presence that adds to the overall strength of what makes Quantum and Woody so different from other comics. Hastings is masterfully adept at balancing the humourous interactions of the Hendersen brothers between themselves and every person they come across with intrigue and heartfelt moments. The latter of which exemplifies what makes Quantum and Woody so endearing, they’re relatable in a real way. The pair could be any siblings who want to make something of themselves, any pair of best friends or nerdy couple who has ever daydreamed about being super. Yeah they’re goofballs and at times it seems like they cause nearly as much trouble as they solve but underneath they really are just a couple good dudes trying their best in some uniquely insane situations.

Ryan Browne brings this structured chaos style to his art that is a grand mix of fond memories. Looking at his art is like watching a monster truck rally, the Chappelle’s Show, and all your favorite cartoons growing up blended into something greater than the sum total of their parts. Something about the energy and strange familiarity of it just draws you in as you wonder just what in God’s name is gonna happen when Woody’s charade finally gets exposed or while you can’t help but cheer a bit as you see Quantum’s intense training pay off in new ways.

Ruth Redmond and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou are a powerhouse pair, Redmond just knocking it out of the park with her colorist work. Whether it’s a flashback that makes you nostalgic (or nauseous depending on your memories of high school) Redmond’s color choices just hit the nail on the head. Hassan? Let me tell ya the longer you read comics the more you get to appreciate more than just who did the script and who did the pencils, not taking anything away from either of those things but man oh man, Otsmane-Elhaou flexes his artistic sense of style on this book so hard it almost makes you wonder why he’s not being parroted more by letters in other books. His lettering choices pop so boldly that they’re essentially a character in the story themselves and it’s just a spectacular layer to add to an already solid book.