Helios (1st Series)

(Dakuwaka, 2004-2005)
™ and © 2004 Mike Penny and Dakuwaka Productions

On just about every level Helios comes as a pleasant surprise. First, not only is it a thoroughly polished first comic from a new company, it also actually manages to pull off the difficult task of putting fantastic characters (here super-powered government agents) into a more realistic setting without rupturing all sense of wonder.

Jason Rand’s script handles the political-thriller aspects of the plot just as well as the super-heroic elements, and, for once, there’s computer-generated coloring that doesn’t completely overwhelm the art. And, oh, what art; Gabe Pena’s work gets the lion’s share of the praise mostly because he never falls into the easy, obvious trap of making all his characters unbelievably attractive.

And that doesn’t just apply to his supporting players; one of the leads—Captain Blair, aka Blur—while certainly attractive, is always altogether human when it comes to her appearance and proportions. Not to mention the fact her “work clothes” are refreshingly practical and she even remains fully dressed in what could have been yet another gratuitous shower scene.

— S.A. Bennett

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