HYDE STREET #1, by Image Comics on 10/2/24, takes a walk on the wild side when readers are introduced to Mr. X-Ray and Pranky as competing harbingers tasked with guiding lost souls to death or damnation.
Credits:
- Writer: Geoff Johns
- Artist: Ivan Reis, Danny Miki
- Colorist: Brad Anderson
- Letterer: Rob Leigh
- Cover Artist: Ivan Reis, Danny Miki, Brad Anderson (cover A)
- Publisher: Image Comics
- Release Date: October 2, 2024
- Comic Rating: Teen
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Page Count: 32
- Format: Single Issue
Covers:
Analysis of HYDE STREET #1:
First Impressions:
I’ll say this for Geoff Johns. He has a knack for telling stories that don’t really grab you immediately. They grow on you after a while. We saw that storytelling style in action with Redcoat and Rook: Exodus, and we see it here with Hyde Street #1. Geoff Johns paints a vibrant picture of a supernatural world with eclectic characters. What’s missing? The hook. You’ll like Hyde Street #1 for the vibe and atmosphere, but it won’t grab you.
Plot Analysis:
We begin with the prologue first printed in the Ghost Machine special, depicting an otherworldly Boy Scout who helps an old lady across the street near a construction zone. As they walk, the Boy Scout knowingly asks the old lady about the deadly secrets she keeps. Before the “good deed” is done, the old lady falls under an oncoming steamroller.
After all these months, the opening prologue from Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis is still wonderfully effective. The supernatural, Twilight Zone-esque vibe of the opening suggests stories about bad people getting what they deserve, so this blend of revenge and the supernatural is right up our alley.
The Boy Scout, Pranky, skips up Hyde Street when he sees the “good deed” earned him another point on one of his Scout badges. He’s too preoccupied with his latest “delivery” to notice he’s about to run into another inhabitant of Hyde Street, Mr. X-Ray. Pranky and Mr. X-Ray have similar responsibilities to guide newcomers to death, damnation, or freedom as they choose, but the two definitely do not get along. Pranky enjoys his work. Mr. X-Ray does what he must to earn his freedom.
Johns begins to set the foundation of Hyde Street by hinting at the prospect of jobs, roles, and rules. You don’t get the full picture right away, but you get enough to understand that Pranky and Mr. X-Ray are peers and competitors for some larger purpose, which is incredibly intriguing.
The issue switches to an extended flashback that shows the origin of Mr. X-Ray as an unscrupulous ad man who was responsible for creating misleading ads for gadgets and doo-dads in comic books during the 1960s, including the X-Ray specs that he wears. Mr. X-Ray and his artist partner were once responsible for creating the most enticing ads in the business until trouble with embezzlement ruined their careers. Unable to find work, they decided to start their own ad agency responsible for creating marketing collateral for everything from Sea Monkeys to Inflatable Monsters.
During the flashback, Johns hits the nostalgia bone with a sledgehammer by tying in Mr. X-Ray’s career to the all-time classic comic ads adult readers saw in every comic up through the 1980s. There was always an element of shadiness behind those ads that over-promised and under-delivered, so making the creative force behind those ads a main character who is forced into a supernatural job as retribution for his unsavory life is unexpectedly cool.
As the flashback progresses, we see Mr. X-Ray’s partner meet his end after a life filled with regret, a visit from Mr. X-Ray’s estranged daughter, and a vow to pay a steep price for escape.
Overall, Hyde Street #1 hits all the right notes for a supernatural tale in the same vein as the Twilight Zone or a much darker Fantasy Island. The world and characters Johns introduces are whimsical, so you find yourself drawn into wanting to know more. However, the one thing the issue lacks is a compelling hook.
Artwork and Presentation:
The second point you consistently find in all the Ghost Machine titles is jaw-droppingly good art. Hyde Street #1 is no exception. Ivan Reis and Danny Miki bring their A-Game to create a lavish world that cannot contain an edge of creepiness. Plus, the amount of detail is impressive. This comic is a work of art.
Art Samples:
The Bigger Picture:
Historical Context:
Geoff Johns introduces readers to Mr. X-Ray, whose given name is Frederick Xavier Ray. However, the real man behind X-Ray Specs and Sea Monkeys was Harold von Braunhut, an American mail-order marketer and inventor.
Final Thoughts:
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HYDE STREET #1 pulls readers into a supernatural world where no past misdeed goes unpunished. Geoff Johns’s take on Twilight Zone-esque storytelling is immediately interesting, and the art team’s delivery is top-shelf. That said, this first issue is all setup without a compelling hook to demand your return.
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