The Pedestrian, Volume 1

by Joey Esposito, Sean Von Gorman (artist)

Behold, The Pedestrian! A strange visitor speed-walks into Summer City and silently changes the lives of its residents. But not all is quiet in this sleepy, small town ― an ancient conflict linked to the secret history of street signs is brewing! DON’T WALK... RUN! In The Pedestrian, justice always has the right of way!

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Fiction, Superheroes

128 pages, Paperback

First published February 11, 2025

About the author

Joey Esposito grew up in New England reading comic books, playing video games, renting movies, and writing stories. After high school, Joey attended film school in New York. In college, Joey honed his writing skills, which he soon applied to his love of prose and comics.

After moonlighting as Long Island’s premier Starbucks barista, Joey wrote his first creator-owned comic book series, FOOTPRINTS (with Jonathan Moore), which was featured in USA Today’s Best of 2011 roundup and inspired a sequel, FOOTPRINTS: BAD LUCK CHARM, in 2014. His all-ages superhero series CAPTAIN ULTIMATE (with Ben Bailey and Boy Akkerman) was released in 2013 to overwhelming positive reception and his 2015 graphic novel, PAWN SHOP (with Sean Von Gorman), was released to critical acclaim.

In 2017, he was accepted into DC Comics’ exclusive Writers Workshop. Since his time in the program, Joey has published stories featuring major characters like Batman, Robin, Harley Quinn, Aquaman, and many more on titles such as BATMAN: URBAN LEGENDS, AQUAMAN AND THE LOST KINGDOM, and more to be announced. His comic book work has also appeared at Image Comics, Valiant Comics, Archie Comics, and others.

In 2024, his new creator-owned series with PAWN SHOP co-creator Sean von Gorman, THE PEDESTRIAN, debuted from Magma Comix.

He lives in Maine with his wife and pets in a house full of soulmates.

He can be found on BlueSky at @joeyesposito.bsky.social.

Reviews

[Jiro Dreams of Suchy · Rating 4 out of 5]

You’ll believe a man can walk

Such a goofy premise but I really enjoyed this. A classic comic story- a town down on its luck gets saved by a man who can harness the power of signage. It’s so dumb it just works!

It’s new humor mixed with kind of classic comic tropes that really make this a good read, makes me feel hopeful. This is the kind of comic you read on a blue sky sunny day and just feel good about- I am craving some pizza now.

[Alexander Peterhans · Rating 2 out of 5]

A lot of forced weirdness (and I normally like weirdness), that never coheres into something more than its individual wacky parts.

Quirkiness for quirkiness' sake, too many characters, titled "chapters" every four pages, narration everywhere.. it's as if the author read What's The Furthest Place From Here? and thought "hey, I can do that!".

Picked up a review copy on Edelweiss

[Grace Stafford · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not kidding that I loved this!! It’s so goofy but really well-done. I’ve never really “got” superheroes, but I am obsessed with The Pedestrian!

[Adam Fisher · Rating 2 out of 5]

Review submitted to Diamond Bookshelf for potential professional publication.

[Alex Cross · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Story So Far - my takeaway from issues one and two:

It's wholly unexpected, but I'm really enjoying this book. It's really quirky in a matter-of-fact way, and it does what I didn't think possible in 2024 - invents a new superhero out of whole cloth. I like that so far, our title character has just been taking on petty crime and righting small-town grievances, but there are hints of hints of something bigger - maybe even cosmic - around the corner. Also lurking in the background are ubiquitous chain restaurant Pizza Sun and the seemingly omnipresent Lazer Titans^TM - there's some delightfully offbeat world-buildig happening here. It's to good effect that - so far - most of the character development has happened through the internal monologues of the townies whose lives The Pedestrian has touched.

Issue two specific: Kira and the twins bond over shared knowledge of Summer City's speedwalkingest vigalante, and I'm curious to see how their investigations intersect with those of Detective Sherwood.

[David Goldman · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Pedestrian by Joe Esposito is an odd and thought-provoking graphic novel that follows the intertwined lives of down-on-their-luck characters who are trying to make something of their lives and do some small but good deeds along the way. These characters are surrounded by two opposing characters: the mild-mannered Pedestrian, who intervenes when needed, and a malevolent force that invades others. The novel explores the question of how much we follow the rules and how much that gives us the right to hurt others when life is unfair. It also questions what is permissible in fighting evil. Despite incorporating some of the techniques and themes of noir, the novel is not a traditional noir. It’s an interesting start to what could be a longer series.

[Kelley May · Rating 5 out of 5]

Placeholder for issue #1 since it’s not on here yet. Great first issue, made me laugh out loud. Love the concept and I’m gonna subscribe.

[George O'Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Pedestrian pitches a fun premise and then goes WAY beyond the promise. It's fun, surprising, thoughtful, and surprisingly creepy at the right times. Can't recommend it enough.

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Odd and interesting but I don't know if I'll be back for the next installment.

[Amanda [Novel Addiction] · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know what this is, other than awesome.

[Brian Bullen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoughts…This series is not at all what I thought it was going to be at all, even now after reading all four issues my brain is still spinning. The first issue makes it all seem so normal and like this is a tale of a small town hero going about his business. A vigilante that just wants to make his bit of the world a little safer for the community around him, which in essence that is what the book seems to be about. It even mentions doing the little things to make the world a better place and then the whole thing flips on its head and becomes so much bigger and mind bending…

This is a great story made up of smaller stories that all converge and become something more. It has that slice of life element for its main cast of characters. We see how small choices and events can spiral into something bigger, cause and effect. We get glimpses into the things that shaped the people in the story, their wins and failures, what drives them to do what they do. I really like this element of the story, seeing the everyday small moments and the connections being made along the way. That's what I thought the whole story was going to be with the Pedestrian being the element that binds them all together, intertwining their lives and creating a story of the town. While this is a big part of the overall story, there is another layer to the whole book that takes things to a mythical or even cosmic level, you will have to check the book out to learn more though as I don't want to spoil that side of things.

The illustration is great, there is a lot of interesting imagery that goes with the story. That imagery plays a major part in the story. There are a lot of symbols and signs hidden in the panels that you might not notice at first but they are there. I like the design of the Pedestrian, a simple white suit, I assume to show that he is on the side of light and purity. As the series continues there are other characters that are introduced and one in particular looks really cool, the perfect opposite to the Pedestrians ideals.

I really like this series, there is so much more to it than meets the eye. It does a great job of getting into the characters and showing their world to us and in their inner monologues there are some really meaningful, thought provoking bits of dialogue. But not only that it gives this whole other side to it that is so out of this world it is crazy and metaphoric, it really does get into your brain in a way you wouldn’t expect. I would give this a 9 out of 10 for sure. This series is really hard to explain without spoilers so can’t say too much but it needs to be read to be believed.

[Thurston Hunger · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bday gift from one son to the other. The giver had heard about this online and was drawn to it, likely without even seeing one of the closing art pages by Sean von Gorman uniting The Pedestrian with The Tick and Arthur.

Like jaywalking this goofy and relatively safe fun. Stays within the lines and pacing/plotting of what feels like a superhero beating the streets, with enough truth, mirth and social justice for all. Teens in peril, corporate front for a den of villainry, struggling Dad and wonder-twins activate.

I think it worked better for my sons than me, and that's just fine. I found the character Jimmer easily the most interesting, but this likely has appeal to people stuck in their small town situation with their first dreaded high school reunion coming up. Skip that party and stay home and read this.

[Norman Cook · Rating 3 out of 5]

2025 Ringo Award Winner - Best Series
2025 Eisner Award Finalist - Best New Series

I've read a lot of weird comics and this one is one of the weirdest. A mysterious pedestrian in a white track suit arrives in the nick of time to save various people from crimes and accidents. But there's also a mysterious malevolent force that takes control of people. How the citizens of Summer City cope with these battling entities makes up the core of the book. It's an intriguing concept, but this volume is really just the prologue, ending without any resolution and more questions than answers. The artwork by Sean Von Gorman is just ok, but it gets the job done. Will I be there for Volume 2? Not sure, but my advice to new readers is to wait until at least Volume 2 to be published before starting the series.

[Neal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super fun and original. I’ll be honest in saying it didn’t blow me away but I really loved the slice of life vibe it has going for it. If a story about how an unusual and quiet hero comes into a corrupted cult like town and shakes things up with a bigger focus on the people he impacts more than the hero himself then this is a story for you.

[Calvin M · Rating 4 out of 5]

I suppose I was expecting some kind of comedy or twist on a comic hero but instead got this odd but earnest good vs evil plot with pretty unique hero/villain ideas.

I think there's some good seeds in here for all the little heroic choices folks make that truly affect their neighbors lives. will keep an eye out for more

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this probably more than I should have. A pretty standard setup of city and characters, and a completely un-understandable superpower combination, with pizza and signage. But I really enjoyed reading it, and I'll be back for more.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

This beautiful and hilarious book is a wonder. It's a send up of super hero, flawed hero, and slice-of-life comics all in one. I think you have to spend a lot of time reading comics to be the target audience for this title, and yet I didn't find it to be annoyingly "inside baseball."

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this DRC from Edelweiss.

Really fun and unique premise. I love that this guy is just out powerwalking around town.

[Cherno Bogue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ca accroche par un concept débile, et une fois dedans on remet sa vie en question. Pépite insoupçonnée !

[George · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE this series. Can't wait for Volume 2.

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Weird and wonderful, this is an interesting glimpse into a world I do not yet understand. Looking forward to reading more!

[Dan P · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fun series! I love a genre send-up and Power Rangers holds a special place in my heart, so this was made for me.

[A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review at https://stuff.graves.cl/posts/2025-06...

[Benjamin Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unique and beautiful. Can’t recommend this series enough. Fingers crossed there is more on the horizon.

[Abbie]

#1
4- Funny and a little weird. A very weird premise not everyone will like but that was just up my alley. I like how much this story seems to rely on background ordinary folks, which is rare even in street level heros these days.