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Dynamo 5 #1
Dynamo 5, Volume 1: Post-Nuclear Family
He was the world's greatest hero, but Captain Dynamo was not a faithful husband. Now he's dead and his family is trying to piece their lives together. As his enemies descend on his unprotected city. Captain Dynamo's widow rounds up his five illegitimate children, each of whom have inherited one of their father's super-powers. Can these total strangers come to terms with their powers, their father's legacy and each other as total chaos erupts?
176 pages, Paperback
First published October 23, 2007
90 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
February 15, 2017
For what this is, this is awesome. It's not going to great depth, it's not probing continuity. Dynamo 5 tells you what it is right on the cover - it's a dynamic, action-oriented approach to superhero storytelling that is unburdened by a need to do anything more than tell a good superhero story. The 5 are five illegitimate children of Captain Dynamo, a recently deceased and seriously unfaithful superguy. The half-sibling element kills what might have been ponderous romantic tension, while their stranger relationship makes their team-building and maintenance interesting. Nice, clean art and forward storytelling.
June 1, 2024
All those twists in the story sure make this a riveting read. It's based on a cheating husband with superpowers named Captain Dynamo, a kind of Superman clone with none of Clark's ethics. It's more original than it sounds and is followed by other revelations. Dynamo's harem means several young characters find themselves to be related. Boy, it sure sounds like a soap opera, but it's still a fun read. The artwork is fine AF and the fights are epic.
When Captain Dynamo died, he left behind a grieving wife. She didn't mourn long before finding out that he cheated on her with dozens of women. She found five of his children, unlocked their abilities and is now guiding them toward becoming a team to protect Tower City. She has a secret that may come into play later on - she is an agent of FLAG, a government organization tasked with controlling superpowered individuals.
When Captain Dynamo died, he left behind a grieving wife. She didn't mourn long before finding out that he cheated on her with dozens of women. She found five of his children, unlocked their abilities and is now guiding them toward becoming a team to protect Tower City. She has a secret that may come into play later on - she is an agent of FLAG, a government organization tasked with controlling superpowered individuals.
April 23, 2020
I loved Faerber's writing in Elsewhere so I am giving this title a try. Awesome. Love the main concept of a superhero who father's many kids who gather to form a team. Faerber does a great job of characterization and story turns. The art is clean and I'm definitely down for the next volume.
June 7, 2018
Really enjoyed this story, the artwork was great and I liked the characters.
October 20, 2019
Entertaining, with interesting and sympathetic characters. However, the scene changes are pretty abrupt, and the action sequences sometimes feel like a few frames are missing.
February 24, 2014
So rather than review each volume (there are 5), I'll just review this one.
Not a lot to say other than I liked the setup a lot. The characters are fun but not astounding and the action sequences seem like they're building to something more.
Obviously the character relationships are what make this book shine and it really seems to finally hit its stride about the time the team falls apart and the Firebirds (or should that be singular? a mother-daughter team with the same powers using the same name) are introduced. That's when secrets really start coming out and the action gets thick and fun. The character roster expands and diversifies and really improves the series.
I have to admit to not liking the change at the end of the 4th volume. For a book that prides itself on being about family relationships as well as superheroics, I expected it to pay a bit more attention to the psychological fallout of that change, yet everyone just adapts and acts like it's no big deal. Bridget (coincidentally my favorite) is the only one that really spends more than an offhand comment on it and even then adapts far better than I would have expected. I suspect that there was more to the change than the author was able to give us, though, and if he'd had time, would have explored at least part of it.
At any rate, it's fun to see the tie-ins with the Nobles and Invincible and the Savage Dragon's kids in the 5th volume and overall, I really appreciate what Faerber and company tried to do with this book.
Heavier than Takio, lighter than Invincible, Dynamo 5 is a fun book that didn't last nearly long enough.
Not a lot to say other than I liked the setup a lot. The characters are fun but not astounding and the action sequences seem like they're building to something more.
Obviously the character relationships are what make this book shine and it really seems to finally hit its stride about the time the team falls apart and the Firebirds (or should that be singular? a mother-daughter team with the same powers using the same name) are introduced. That's when secrets really start coming out and the action gets thick and fun. The character roster expands and diversifies and really improves the series.
I have to admit to not liking the change at the end of the 4th volume. For a book that prides itself on being about family relationships as well as superheroics, I expected it to pay a bit more attention to the psychological fallout of that change, yet everyone just adapts and acts like it's no big deal. Bridget (coincidentally my favorite) is the only one that really spends more than an offhand comment on it and even then adapts far better than I would have expected. I suspect that there was more to the change than the author was able to give us, though, and if he'd had time, would have explored at least part of it.
At any rate, it's fun to see the tie-ins with the Nobles and Invincible and the Savage Dragon's kids in the 5th volume and overall, I really appreciate what Faerber and company tried to do with this book.
Heavier than Takio, lighter than Invincible, Dynamo 5 is a fun book that didn't last nearly long enough.
April 6, 2010
I picked up this first compilation of Dynamo 5 because I liked the high-concept: Captain Dynamo, a Superman-esque powerhouse, has passed away, but his legacy includes numerous illegitimate children from his many, many affairs. Of his wide array of powers, each of Captain Dynamo's kids inherits one, and together they form an unlikely crimefighting team, under the watchful eye of Captain Dynamo's still-grieving-but-much-cheated-upon widow. And if the series was just those characters going through the generic superhero playbook, I would probably find it amusing enough.
But fortunately it's got more going for it than that. The kids are all in their teens and early twenties and interact about the way you'd expect them to, having suddenly discovered who their father really was and that they have multiple half-siblings. And interwoven with the learning-how-to-use-their-powers-and-fight-as-a-team hijinks are government conspiracies, more of Captain Dynamo's secrets, and big plot twists in just about every issue. I wanted to check this out so that I could say that I had, but I'll almost certainly keep going with the next few volumes to see just how far they can keep pushing the envelope.
But fortunately it's got more going for it than that. The kids are all in their teens and early twenties and interact about the way you'd expect them to, having suddenly discovered who their father really was and that they have multiple half-siblings. And interwoven with the learning-how-to-use-their-powers-and-fight-as-a-team hijinks are government conspiracies, more of Captain Dynamo's secrets, and big plot twists in just about every issue. I wanted to check this out so that I could say that I had, but I'll almost certainly keep going with the next few volumes to see just how far they can keep pushing the envelope.
February 26, 2012
The basic plot is simple yet creative. Captain Dynamo was a great superhero with numerous abilities who protected Tower City. He married an intrepid reporter (and secret agent) named Maddie Warner. However, Captain Dynamo was also an unfaithful letch and constantly cheated on his wife, fathering numerous illegimate children. After Dynamo is murdered, Maddie gathers five of these illegimate children (each with a different aspect of Dynamo's powers) and forms Dynamo 5 to protect Tower City.
What makes the comic great is Faerber's excellent story telling and focus on the family dynamic aspect to the book. This is not new territory as Faerber, who is also the creator behind Noble Causes. I should mention that Image recently released two very affordable archive editions for Noble Causes (V.1 and v.2). Both are must reads and actually feature the first appearance (and death) of Captain Dynamo. I guess that makes Dynamo 5 a spin-off of Noble causes.
What makes the comic great is Faerber's excellent story telling and focus on the family dynamic aspect to the book. This is not new territory as Faerber, who is also the creator behind Noble Causes. I should mention that Image recently released two very affordable archive editions for Noble Causes (V.1 and v.2). Both are must reads and actually feature the first appearance (and death) of Captain Dynamo. I guess that makes Dynamo 5 a spin-off of Noble causes.
November 10, 2016
This is one of a pile of different books that came out around this time that all follow under the basic premise 'what if the heroes aren't so heroic. In this one, the Superman stand-in (Captain Dynamo) dies (in bed.. poisoned by his mistress), and his widow finds he was.. less that faithful. In order to protect the city from the bad guys, she finds 5 illegitimate children of his and attempts to form them into a superhero team.
There's some fun juxtapositions in the cast (the football player has telepathy, the goth/actress girl the super strength) and it's well written with good characters. I'm not sure how much unique ground it can cover as a straight superhero book, but this first seven issues was a fun read, I'll definitely get the next one at some point.
There's some fun juxtapositions in the cast (the football player has telepathy, the goth/actress girl the super strength) and it's well written with good characters. I'm not sure how much unique ground it can cover as a straight superhero book, but this first seven issues was a fun read, I'll definitely get the next one at some point.
December 16, 2009
An enjoyable quasi-family soap opera that meshes the Superman myth with more modern broken families. Jay Faerber has been solid at super-soap operas for years on Noble Causes, and this looks to be more of the same mostly-light, cliffhanger-packed, inconsequential power-fantasy fun.
December 14, 2012
Somehow Jay Faerber creates a comic that isn't dark, edgy, or gritty but is super fun and hip without being forced and cheesy. I had so much fun with this title. Interesting characters and story twists without being too involved. I'm so glad I picked this up. Can't wait to read the next one. Great stuff!
May 17, 2022
3.5 Stars
Not usually a fan of the Image superhero stuff, but this book was not bad. Art was good, with obvious change toward end of book, and the story was worth reading. Book tried in places to be emotional and deep, but did not really succeed in being more than just an action story. I will probably read the next book.
Not usually a fan of the Image superhero stuff, but this book was not bad. Art was good, with obvious change toward end of book, and the story was worth reading. Book tried in places to be emotional and deep, but did not really succeed in being more than just an action story. I will probably read the next book.
January 31, 2008
Okay, I only read the first issue in this collection, and it sucked. Maybe it got better by leaps and bounds, but the writing in the first issue was pedestrian, and the BIG plot twist was boring, added because its the cool thing to do.
March 3, 2008
Fans of Ult. Spidey, Invincible, and books of that like look no further. This book has a promising premise as well as a story that pleases... it's good.
Short and sweet set up for the story that still builds as the comic goes on. Twists, action, drama... all around good stuff.
Short and sweet set up for the story that still builds as the comic goes on. Twists, action, drama... all around good stuff.
October 4, 2009
This is the best superhero team book today. Dynamo 5 is a creator-owned story, so there isn't decades of continuity weighing it down. Just great characters, villains, plot twists and art that has the feel of a comic from the 80s.
December 8, 2011
I know I'm several years late on this, but DUDE. This book is fantastic. A multi-ethnic, gender-balanced group of young long-lost siblings trying to become a family while fighting crime? I need more NOW.
January 3, 2015
Excellent artwork and an interesting story. The characters are original and believable. Though this was my first image comic, the setting felt familiar and the world inviting. I will certainly continue following dynamo 5's journeys.
May 19, 2010
Interesting concept for a series, eager to see how it works out!
February 24, 2016
it was okay
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews