Written by: Kurtis J. Wiebe
Art by: Tyler Jenkins
Colours by: Alex Sollazzo
Letters by: Ed Brisson
Cover by: Tyler Jenkins
Published by: Image
Cover Price: $3.50 (USD)
SOME SPOLIERS
Having read The Intrepids, Green Wake (which continues to be one of my favourite series) and Snow Angel it’s fair to say that I am a fan of Kurtis Wiebe. His name alone was more than enough for me to want to read this comic and Peter Panzerfaust certainly gets off to a positive start.
The most basic way of explaining the concept of this series is a World War Two set Peter Pan, which sounds very cool in itself, but I’m sure Wiebe and Jenkins will be putting a new spin on the classic story, rather than just retelling in a new setting.
The narrative takes a flashback structure; this issue beginning as an elderly Tootles (one of the “Lost Boys” who are French orphans in this version) relates his first meeting with Peter to some sort of psychologist or interviewer. This is an interesting way to tell the story as it leaves it very open to subjectivity, the possibility of Peter being aged or not, as well as presumably having each of the boys tell their own versions of events with Peter.
Tyler Jenkins also seems like he is going to do great work with Peter Panzerfaust. Jenkins draws everything well, from war torn Calais to the opening quiet conversation. It is when drawing Peter though that Jenkins’ work really stands out. The first time Peter is shown is excellent, it’s early on in the issue, but the splash page of Peter, standing with his rifle, is full on energy and personality. The way Peter stands, moves, stick his tongue out before attempting a roof top hop; it all creates a clear sense of the character.
The Lost Boys currently haven’t had time for their personalities to shine, but I’m sure that will come as each of them is spotlighted in subsequent issues.
I did have a couple of problems with this issue though. Firstly, it seems to end very abruptly, in a way that jars the pacing. Also, despite being a standard twenty-two page comic, Peter Panzerfaust is a very quick read and feels short.
Nevertheless, I am interested in this series; the concept is cool and Wiebe and Jenkins are both very good. By putting the Peter Pan tale into a World War Two setting there is a lot of scope for interesting new stories and spectacular art and that’s why I’ll be back for the second instalment.
8/10
