Previewed by James Tynion IV via his Substack back in February 2022 and initially running as a digital comic via that same platform, THE ODDLY PEDESTRIAN LIFE OF CHRISTOPHER CHAOS #1 finally hit shelves this week from Dark Horse Comics after months of anticipation. The excitement (and advanced orders) grew so much that the publisher announced a 2nd printing of the first issue and an upgrade from limited series to ongoing series before the series even debuted. That’s a lot of faith to put into a new series and a big ask for the first issue to deliver the goods. And deliver it did!

The first issue is a collaboration between Tynion, writer Tate Brombal, artist Isaac Goodhart, colorist Miquel Muerto, and letterer Aditya Bidikar. It’s a masterful combination of queer identity, sci-fi horror, and young adult angst all wrapped up in beautiful illustrations that come to life on every page. It’s hard for me to choose just which part of this comic book was my favorite, so please bear with me as I fanboy for a bit…

The combination of Goodhart, Muerto, and Bidikar is a stroke of genius. Everything works from a visual perspective from start to finish. The team has crafted a brilliant approach to make Christoper Chaos’ design unique and contrasting to everyone and everything else around him and every detail aids in building a world where Christopher feels like an “other” compared to the world around him. Muerto’s colors especially standout in several panels with bright palettes of yellows, blues, pinks and reds being used for emphasis to great effect.

While the art could stand on it’s own, it is combined with one of the most poignant and evocative writing displays of 2023. Brombal’s story cuts deep and you are immediately pulled into the mindset of a teenager who feels alone, scared, and unsure of who he is — something we can all likely relate to in some capacity. While Christopher has many things that set him apart, including being queer, the driving force of the narrative is his desire to hide special abilities that he’s had for birth. The metaphor between living a reclusive life with hidden secretes due to these powers and being a queer person in a heteronormative world is obvious, though it’s done in a subtle and respectful way. Brombal forces you to feel the weight of what Christopher is dealing with throughout the issue.

For a character who feels like he is so different, the only thing odd about Christopher is just how relatable he is to anyone who has ever felt like they don’t belong. Having queer characters deal with issues beyond their queerness isn’t anything new to comics, yet the world that the creative team is building feels entirely new. After reading this issue, it’s clear why Dark Horse felt confident investing in this series for the long haul. Everyone involved has crafted a story that is set up to explore countless possibilities while providing a truly human look at what it means to be different.

THE ODDLY PEDESTRIAN LIFE OF CHRISTOPHER CHAOS #1 is now available at your local comic book shop or you can order online from Third Eye Comics, the official retail partner of Derby Comics.

Rating: 10/10