Moon Man #1 Review: A Stellar Debut

Moon Man #1

Review

Rating

9

Good

Writer: Scott Mescudi and Kyle Higgins

Artist: Marco Locati

Publisher: Image Comics

Release Date: January 30, 2024

Page Count: 40

Kid Cudi makes his bold debut in comics with a unique superhero origin story that’s equally flashy and personal.

Moon Man #1

Review

Writer: Scott Mescudi and Kyle Higgins

Artist: Marco Locati

Publisher: Image Comics

Release Date: January 30, 2024

Page Count: 40

Kid Cudi makes his bold debut in comics with a unique superhero origin story that’s equally flashy and personal.

Rating

9

Good

Comics created by celebrities used to be few and far between, but there’s been a noticeable uptick in recent years. You’ve got comics like BRZRKR by Keanu Reeves, The Holy Roller by Andy Samberg and Joe Trohman, and The Riddler: Year One by Paul Dano. The latest series to join those ranks is Image Comics’ Moon Man by Scott Mescudi, a.k.a. Kid Cudi. As a self-proclaimed comic book nerd, Kid Cudi gets to live his dream of creating a superhero of his own. But he’s not going on this adventure alone. Alongside Kyle Higgins, the mastermind behind Radiant Black and the MassiveVerse, and artist Marco Locati, Kid Cudi brings life to a character deeply connected to himself and his music. Does the comic love up to the hype from the names attached to it? Continue reading for my full review of Moon Man #1!

Image: Image Comics

Overview

Ramon Townsend and his fellow astronauts return home after a failed attempt to land on the moon. While the crew came back to Earth in one piece, there’s concern they might have brought back something with them. That’s because during their expedition, all contact got lost for a brief seven-minute period, and the crew themselves can’t recollect what happened. 

Back on Earth, Ramon reconnects with his younger brother Micah, who has developed a rebellious mindset against Janus, the mega-corp that Ramon works for. Then, on a night when Micah gets caught in trouble, Ramon steps up to save his brother and inadvertently awakens a strange power within himself. To figure out what’s going on with his body, Ramon must look to the stars for answers.

Image: Image Comics

Review

With a beautiful opening splash page that evokes a sense of cosmic wonder, this issue immediately gives you a taste of the bold creativity at work. But a visual taste is all that is throughout most of the comic. The issue spends plenty of time setting up the characters and the economic inequality that plagues their world. As much as the cover and opening pages caught my attention through flashy visuals, I was pleasantly surprised by how deeply human the issue unfolded, with the heart of the story being Ramon’s relationship with his younger brother, Micah. Mescudi and Higgins crafted a sharp script that perfectly characterizes the brothers’ personalities, motivations, and struggles. By the end of the issue, you get a clear sense of the familial bond and the deep-seated tension that looms over Ramon and Micah. After all, who doesn’t have heavy disagreements with their siblings? So, even with all the comic’s flashes of superpowers and unexplainable cosmic entities, the story ultimately feels very grounded on the fleshed-out personalities of its characters. 

Another pleasant surprise for me also was Marco Locati’s mesmerizing art. Admittedly, I was unfamiliar with his work leading up to this release, so I had no idea what to expect. However, I can imagine the up-and-coming artist had a tall order to fill for such a project. It’s not every day when a musician as big as Kid Cudi decides to make a comic, let alone one with a heavyweight like Kyle Higgins also attached to it. But, as I’ve hinted earlier, I’m happy to report that Locati knocked it out of the park with this one. His work shines the most when the story explores the mysteries that we can only imagine are out there in the universe. As much as this issue sets the groundwork for the characters and their bold new adventure, the flashes of Locati’s vibrant artistry when Ramon lets his powers loose will make you want to come back and experience more. 

Image: Image Comics

Final Thoughts

This debut of Moon Man does everything it needs to pull you in with the gravity of its intriguing story. The issue gives you just enough background on the main characters and their conflicting ideals in a world troubled by an imbalance of power. Then, through the flashes of Ramon’s strange abilities, there are teases of the story growing on a cosmic scale. From cover to cover, this comic offers a fantastic package as it contains a personal message from Mescudi himself, links to new music connected to the series, and even a collection of character sketches by artist Marco Locati. With a strong groundwork set up in this one issue, the stars are the limit for the promising new series.

Why You Should Read Moon Man

• This issue effectively sets up the story’s relatable characters and world.
• Fans of Kid Cudi are in for a treat as this comic comes with new music attached.
• Marco Locati’s art is eye-catching and mesmerizing.