Review: Sideways Vol. 1- Steppin’ Out

Quick Summary

Pros: The book features plenty of fun action and compelling drama. The characters are all interesting and written well. The book’s main mystery is compelling and ends on a solid hook. The vast majority of this book’s artwork looks great and is highly creative.

Cons: Some of the dialogue is lackluster. One of the chapters has mediocre artwork.

Overall: This is a highly positive start to a new comic. It introduces readers to a highly interesting side of the DC universe, populated with a charming cast of characters and a compelling mix of mysteries. It then proceeds to tell an incredibly fun and exciting story around all of these elements. This is all further enhanced by some beautiful artwork. This is a fun read that should appeal to most comic fans, especially those who enjoy witty, young adult characters. 

Story

Sideways Vol. 1: Steppin’ Out, by Dan DiDio, Kenneth Rocafort, and Justin Jordan, is an energetic start to a brand new series. This volume hits the ground running with a narrative that manages to bring out over-the-top action and drama in a variety of both serious and funny situations. This means that one chapter might be an epic, cosmic battle while the next might be a more down-to-earth encounter with a local villain. This mix works well and is met with a level of charm that is present in all of the main characters. The book’s narrative then concludes with plenty of mystery up in the air, providing an effective hook for future storytelling. The only real downside is that the dialogue is a bit inorganic at times. However, the vast majority of this book is highly enjoyable and makes for an entertaining read.

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The bulk of the appeal in Steppin’ Out comes from the volume’s energetic approach to action and drama. This is a book that starts with its hero running from a cosmic entity. Then, before he has much time to recover, he is fighting a villain in nothing but a mask and a hospital gown. The blend between high-stakes, cosmic-level danger and simple, down-to-earth drama works extremely well for a comic about a lighthearted young person.

In addition, plenty of enjoyment also comes from the characters themselves. Sideways is a great hero, with Spider-Man-style wit and intriguing powers. His interactions with his costars also help drive both humor and emotion. This can come from simple jokes with his best friend or from a complex relationship with his adopted mother. Even the still enigmatic presence of Tempus Fuginaut adds something, as his character can be cosmically epic or charmingly ridiculous based on the moment. While the action and drama in this book help make it immediately appealing, the characters give the reader a reason to come back for more.

Speaking of reasons to return to this series, another positive of the narrative in Steppin’ Out comes from the fact that it concludes with so much left to explore. Readers are still unsure of the full scope of Sideways’ powers, are completely unaware of what Dark Star Sciences has planned, and only have received vague hints about how Tempus Fuginaut will work with our hero. The volume’s final twist, the death of Derek’s mother, ups the stakes even further and is sure to have dramatic consequences in the next volume. It feels like we’ve barely scraped the surface on what Sideways can offer and that makes me even more excited to see what it can accomplish next.

The biggest problem with this volume is pretty minor and mostly relates to dialogue. There are places where the dialogue tries to sound young but ends up just sounding weird, like when Derek mentions someone DM’ing him a snapchat. In addition, the Showman’s dialogue works in setting up a metaphor for high school bullies but ends up feeling forced and unnatural. Again, the dialogue isn’t a serious problem but is something I hope improves as the series progresses.

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Art

The majority of the artwork throughout Steppin’ Out is fantastic and really helps give this series the unique feel that helps set it apart. All of Kenneth Rocafort’s chapters are perfect for this book. They feature creative character designs, energetic layouts, and a generally wonderful sense of imagination. I particularly appreciated the way in which Rocafort’s art gives each character a distinct personality, whether this occurs through fashion or through general facial expressions. Plus, Daniel Brown’s colors are a great pair for Rocafort’s work, contributing to the book’s vibrant sense of energy.

Unfortunately, the volume’s final two chapters do not come from Rocafort. Carmine di Giandomenico’s work mostly holds up the level of quality present in the rest of this book. However, Robert Gill’s chapter sees this level of quality fall dramatically, in what ends up being a disappointingly mediocre chapter. Overall though, the visuals in this book look great and, with a few exceptions, help make this a significantly more positive reading experience.

Continuity

Sideways Vol. 1: Steppin’ Out is the first volume in a mostly independent series. However, the book’s central premise stems from the Multiversal incursion that takes place across Dark Nights: Metal (Review) (Reading Order) event, which is briefly mentioned at several points throughout this volume.

The story here is continued in Sideways Vol. 2: Rifts and Revelations (Review).