I would have done a review of this comic the week it came out but I couldn’t because it sold out right away. It’s safe to say that the reason Soldier Zero sold out so quickly, while so many other Indy titles just sit on the racks, is because Stan Lee’s name was on the cover. People can talk all they want about the latest hot new creator or the current industry heavy weight but leave it to an old pro to do the most important thing; sell comics.
There is no doubt in my mind that Stan Lee’s name on the cover is what prompted people to give this new series a try. Future issues however will need more then Stan The Man’s name on the cover to make this series successful. Contrary to what many top executives, at the major publishers, seem to think a big name creator on a title does not guarantee success. Sure the superstar creator’s name may get people to try the first issue as was the case here but the superstar creator’s name alone can not delivery long term sales success. Long term sales success comes from a quality product, being delivered on time and on a consistent bases. Which comic are you going to buy, on a regular bases, the one put out by the superstar creator; that has an ill-conceived plot, poor artwork, characters that you have a hard time caring about and that comes out whenever they feel like getting around to it or the comic put out by some steady pro that has a well conceived plot, quality art, enjoyable characters and that comes out every month on time? I would give some examples but I don’t want to upset anyone.
As for the first issue of Soldier Zero it was OK and I will give the second issue a try because Stan Lee’s name will be on it but after that the series will have to stand or fall on it’s own merits. One thing that BOOM! Studios could have done to make the comic better is to have devoted the whole issue to the Soldier Zero story rather then including a six page preview of their next series. This issue is probably the best chance Soldier Zero has to make a positive impression on consumers so use the whole comic to capture the interest of those consumers.
Keith Forney