Scott Snyder is a busy guy with his return to DC Comics. He’s scripting Absolute Batman and is one of the brains behind the DC All In reboot. But if you miss his indie comic book work, don’t worry, there’s plenty more to come… Particularly from his fruitful pipeline from Comixology to Dark Horse Comics, which continues with Duck and Cover #1. And as a lovely bonus, Snyder reunites with his American Vampire collaborator Rafael Albuquerque on the book.
Even better, these Dark Horse reprints take two digital issues and jam them into a single volume, which is particularly helpful for Duck and Cover. That’s because the concept of the book isn’t really revealed until the end — that per the title, the classic “duck and cover” filmstrip shown in schools comes true, and a group of students are only saved from nuclear annihilation by hiding under their desks. It gets weirder and wilder from there. But Snyder, ever the history buff, spends time in the ’50s wallowing in the period before getting to the sci-fi stuff.
And that actually works in the comics’ favor, by letting us spend time with the various characters. As usual, everything is extremely well-researched, detailed, and thought out. Snyder is meticulous in his plotting, and that shows with the various period details and language used throughout the issue. However, slightly less lauded from Snyder, but equally as good is his handle on character. Here the focus is on a Black teen, Delmont Reeves, who just wants to make movies. Unfortunately, it’s the ’50s, and that just won’t fly. After he suffers a tragedy Sammy Fableman could only dream of, his film dreams get put on the back burner… For now.
Delmont is an excellent central character here, sympathetic and nuanced. While most of the first issue(s) is setup, it’ll be particularly interesting to see how he and his newfound companions develop based on the new, post-apocalyptic situation they’re facing. And having previously worked with Albuquerque, the artist is put through his paces here, drawing everything from a ’50s drive-in to a wasteland landscape.
It’s a fun start with some deeper implications that should be interesting to see how all the various plotlines weave together (or not) by the end. A lot of the proof should be in the subsequent two issues… As long as they don’t blow everyone up, first.
Duck and Cover #1 Rating:
Duck and Cover #1 Official Synopsis:
A manga-influenced teen adventure set in the strange post-apocalyptic America… of 1955. From the team behind the seminal Vertigo series American Vampire!
Three issue series.
A post-apocalyptic adventure series with a historical twist.