Review: Icon and Rocket: Season One #1
[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]
Writer: Reginald Hudlin
Artist:Â Doug Braithwaite
Inks: Scott Hanna, Andrew Currie
Colors: Brad Anderson
Letters:Â Andworld Design
Reviewed by: Seth Singleton
Summary
Icon and Rocket return in Icon and Rocket: Season One #1. The legendary duo that redefined comic book expectations and conventions are back and the world and comics will be better for it.
Positives — Familiar Origins
The world needs Rocket and Icon. These characters began by showcasing two different world views coming together to save the one world that they share. What they have become is something greater than an idea and better than a dream.
Fans of the original Milestone Icon and Rocket series origin will enjoy this updated rendition. It introduces the concept of terrorism on the opening pages. Unlike  Superman, Icon was not sent here by loving parents.
Instead, he was on a ship returning from a mission. One of his brothers in arms became infected by a parasitic organism that hid its identity until it could do the worst damage. It succeeded.
The ship is damaged beyond repair. The crew lost. Faced with the choices left to him, Icon departs in a pod and arrives on Earth. The craft lands in the state of Georgia in the year 1843.
In this way, Icon’s story resembles that of Calvin Ellis the Superman of Earth – 23. Icon is found by a couple. They are looking for an opportunity to escape slavery. The ship that Icon arrives in is designed to alter the molecular structure. It changes him to resemble an infant based on the genetic material the first to discover the vehicle. Clearly, there is much more to the story of his arrival and introduction to the time when rocket or account icon.
Positives — Live-changing choices
Raquel is lonely. The boys she would like to ask her out or too scared. She lets a boy named Ant who shows her attention invite her to help his crew. She joins even though she can hear the way he disrespects her behind her back.
Ant describes Raquel as just one of his many female “friends”. For now, she is the reader of his collection, until he can get the satisfaction that he desires from her physically. Ant reminds his friends that he’s getting the best out of the deal.
Raquel is small. That means she can get into places and open doors. This way the three guys in the car can come inside without any conflict. The four discover timeless possessions that are decades old. Suddenly they discover Icon.
The boys respond with fear and violence. They fail. Raquel changes.
Later, she returns on her own and offers Icon a challenge. She suggests he can be so much more. Raquel wants to show him through her the difference he can make in the world.
Negatives
No negatives here.
Verdict
The promise of Icon and Rocket lives. Milestone’s legacy is honored and expanded. The stellar collaboration between the writing and the art is vibrant. In addition, the awareness of how much the world has changed since the characters first appeared in the milestone universe introduced is clear.
The original Dakotaverse did not address the many social issues that are now captivating headlines. The political and social climate is made for characters like Icon and Rocket. The art reminds me of the Wonder I found in that groundbreaking color mixture that defined every page of the original Milestone comics.
The reverence is clear in every panel. Long-time readers will enjoy the familiar. New readers will stare with wonder.
