Primer is a fun read and a great superhero to join the ranks of the DC Universe! I’ve always thought that the comic industry needs young reader titles that appeal to adults and kids. The closest I think is Power Pack, which had four young, sibling superheroes. It continued with the limited series, Power Pack: Into the Storm by original creators, Louise Simonson and June Brigman. Primer was a 2020 graphic novel targeted for young adults. In May, the chapters were made into a limited series. It is an interesting reversal of printing the comic after the trade paperback. In September, a three issue limited series, Primer: Clashing Colors, was released. Primer made a cameo in Teen Titans Academy #8 (2022) and joined the team in the final issue #15 (2022).
Primer is the perfect title connected to paint, a layer to protect paint and also the literary term for an introduction to a subject, in this case, superheroes and comics! I think it is the perfect comic for young readers, non-comic readers, and veteran comic fans. Primer, “Primary Colors”, is by the writing team of Jennifer Muro and Thomas Krajewski and the art is by Gretel Lusky. Muro is the writer for Star Wars: Forces of Destiny. Krajewski has written for The Snoopy Show. Lusky is an animation character designer who has worked on Ian : A Moving Story (2018). Check out her artwork at https://gretlusky.com/
The cover of the graphic novel and first issue by Lusky has Primer, smiling and splattered with colors, spray can in hand, splotches of dripping color in the background, and spray cans by her boots. In a splash page, a woman in glasses, as well as other citizens give the classic Superman intro, “Look! Up in the sky!” A funny intro for a superhero book. It is actually a plane, a jet airliner with engines on fire! This also a nod to the first outing of Superman in the 1978 movie. An insert panel shows the pilots in panic. In her apartment window is Ashley Rayburn, 13 year old hero, holding her pink wig.
Then, she takes out tubes of paint; Fire, Strength, and Invulnerability. Multiple powers are fun, Dial H for Hero, had ordinary people gain powers by using a magical dial. We find later that she has a total of 33 super powers! Another splash page as Primer leaps off her building to catch the plane. This page has creator credits in the first issue. Her leap gets her to crunch the fuselage of the jet. It hurtles towards a bridge and Ashley wonders what she will do with fire powers. She struggles to lift the jet with her right hand and then with her left hand unleashes a fire blast. The blast strikes the bay under the bridge and counters the jet’s fall! Clever. I like a hero that has work out using powers.
She propels the jet with her fire power and over the head of the citizens. A mother wonders who is the superhero and her daughter shouts, “Rainbow Dash!” The My Little Pony pegasus! Primer has brought the airliner over the airport. She uses her boots to slow the plane’s descent. The jet races towards an unloaded plane! The two jets touch with a fuuny sound effect. Then, a splash page of Primer holding up the jet as she tells a startled baggage worker that he can grow up to be strong as a girl, funny! This flashes back three weeks to the building of a foster home at night. Ashley suddenly wakens shouting, “Dad! No!” An interesting memory that will have to be explored. Ashley sneaks out of the window and at a tunnel, begins spray painting by moonlight.
Five Body Paints out of Five!
#Primer, #PrimaryColors, #JenniferMuro, #ThomasKrajewski, #GretelLusky, #AshleyRayburn, #KitchNolan, #YukaNolan, #Luke, #MrsBoyd, #CalStrack
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