What is a “Hot Pants” pick? Quite simply, it’s a book that all five reviewers on this site believe is worthy of your time. It may or may not be one of our favorite books, but it’s that rare breed of comic that struck all five of us, with our different tastes, as a good read. Dynamo 5 is our latest “Hot Pants” pick.
Without its unusual hook, writer Jay Faerber’s Dynamo 5 would still be well worth a read, as it’s got strong characters, great art and classic superhero action/melodrama pacing. Mix in a solidly executed book with an interesting premise, though, and it’s easy to see why this book is a Comic Pants favorite. Basically, Dynamo 5 is about five half-brothers and sisters who each have the same father, a superhero named Captain Dynamo, and one of his powers. They were brought together in the wake of the hero’s death (in bed, and not alone) by his widow, who sought out the children of his various affairs to deal with his villains now that he’s gone. Sounds noble, right? Except that Maddie Warner has some secrets and an agenda of her own, and the same is true of all five of the Dynamo 5, and the result is a mix of interesting characters with plenty of depth and potential for the future. Throw in some interesting new villains with strong designs by artists Mahmud A. Asrar, using a style reminiscent of Marvel superstar Jim Cheung, and you’ve got one of the best new superhero books on the block. Best of all, the first trade paperback, containing the first seven issues, is only $10.
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I agree with all of that. I also continue to be amazed at Randy’s inability to write a short anything.
06 Aug 2007 at 11:48 pm
QuoteI’m a fan of this lil’ gem myself. All my superhero purchases these days are comin’ from Image. Good stuff.
TIM
07 Aug 2007 at 8:37 am
QuoteDynamo 5 is indeed an excellent read. If you are a fan of Invincible or Runaways you should definately pick this up. If you are not a fan of Invincible or Runaways then there is no hope for you. Just give up on life, become a shut in and start buying cats in bulk. Or you know you could start reading this comic.
07 Aug 2007 at 10:25 am
QuoteBest.Team.Book.Period.
Best premise to any team book or superhero book since Runaways. Forget the X-Men, Avengers and Justice League(at least until Dwayne McDuffie arrives) right now and pick this book up. It’s easily better then those.
It mixes the best of Runaways with what Stan Lee established with Spider-Man back in the day and with a soap opera back history to make it one of the best books out there.
07 Aug 2007 at 2:36 pm
QuoteInterested in reading this comic. I will pick up the trade.
Anyone been reading Jay Faerber’s Noble Causes? Is it any good? Is it just are good as Dynamo 5?
07 Aug 2007 at 4:21 pm
QuoteNoble Causes is also quite good. It’s the closest thing to a soap opera or TV drama show I’ve found in comics- it just has that feel to it. I dig it, and it was one of the big reasons I checked out Dynamo 5.
07 Aug 2007 at 5:29 pm
QuoteDo I need to be familar with Noble Causes to read Dynamo 5?
07 Aug 2007 at 6:21 pm
QuoteI would say no because I have never read Noble Causes and I love Dynamo 5. However I plan on reading it one of these days.
07 Aug 2007 at 7:28 pm
QuoteAbsolutely not. The two books do take place in the same universe, and Captain Dynamo appeared in Noble Causes a couple times, but I’ve been very careful to make Dynamo 5 completely standalone.
~ Jay
07 Aug 2007 at 7:48 pm
QuoteJay Faerber understands what makes comics fun to read.
Both books are worth your time.
07 Aug 2007 at 7:58 pm
QuoteI’d prefer more reviews like this and less tack-on stuff like “Rumble Pants”, honestly.
07 Aug 2007 at 8:14 pm
QuoteNoble Causes is a book I’ve always had extremely mixed feelings about, but I have no such mixed feelings about Dynamo 5. It’s a good series.
07 Aug 2007 at 10:28 pm
QuoteWe like to think there’s room for both. And more, such as the addition of “Boxers or Brief” interviews, etc.
07 Aug 2007 at 11:06 pm
QuoteWow. This I did not expect. Thanks for the response Jay!
I have an online friend in the States who often badgers me to pick up Noble Causes. I was always unsure as to where to start with the book and I saw Dynamo 5 as being a Noble Causes spin-off of sorts.
I’ve heard really good things about Dynamo 5 and so I’ll grab the trade and see how it goes. I need something new and I think this might be it.
08 Aug 2007 at 5:42 am
QuoteIf you do decide to start up Noble Causes, most of it has been traded up and the story is such that I’d recommend just starting at the beginning. You certainly can jump in later, but you’ll get the most out of it from starting at the the first trade, I think.
08 Aug 2007 at 7:51 am
QuoteHey Dan!
You wouldn’t happen to know which one that might be? I know there were some Nobles Causes series before the ongoing. Do I seek those out or start at the start of the ongoing?
08 Aug 2007 at 5:19 pm
QuoteHey!
They are actually numbered in volume order, I believe, with the first volume, In Sickness and In Health, collecting the initial Noble Causes mini and a one-shot. I would start there. The ongoing doesn’t start being collected until volume 4, but the minis collected in volumes 1-3 are well worth your time and give some pretty important story info. Starting at volume 4 won’t be unreadable or anything, but in my opinion it won’t be as enjoyable either.
08 Aug 2007 at 10:18 pm
QuoteThanks Dan. I’ll see if I can seek out the first volume when I’m next at my LCS.
09 Aug 2007 at 5:21 am
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