cover image The Advance Team

The Advance Team

Will Pfeifer and Germán Torres. Tor, $15.99 trade paper (176p) ISBN 978-0-7653-2712-3

Zack delivers pizzas and takes on all the abuse that comes with the job. But Zack is also hiding something he doesn’t even know about himself—that he’s the product of an intergalactic experiment and possesses incredible powers. Encouraged by his Uncle Archie, an old acquaintance of his deceased parents, Zack is sent out to take on an “advance team” of aliens masquerading as artists, music producers, and U.S. presidents. Zack seems able to take on just about any challenge, and therein lies the story’s primary problem. There’s no suspense as the same scenario repeats itself inexorably: Zack meets increasingly powerful beings and kills them without much fuss. Nothing can hurt this pizza boy, apparently. Krypton, anyone? Or at least, maybe anchovies. What this comic has going for it, despite the sophomoric plot, is some highly effective b&w art. The crisp, taut lines and the strong graphic feel of the pencil and ink drawings carry the day and make it enjoyable, flaws and all. (Mar.)