Homecoming #1
Written by David Wohl and Scott Lobdell
Art by Emilio Laiso
Colors by Brett Smith and Stefani Rennee
Letters by Josh Reed
Aspen Comics
Release Date: August, 15, 2012
Cover Price: $3.99

Hunter Wilson is your typical American geeky high school student. He worries about getting good grades and getting a date for the big dance, plays lots of video games, and has a blonde attractive alien lady show up stark naked in his swimming pool. Wait, what?? I smell a premise. Thankfully, it is in an endearing one in the capable hands of writers David Wohl and Scott Lobdell who seem to really dig aliens and teenagers in the least creepy way possible.

To to set up Homecoming #1, readers are given a magazine article from ten years ago which explains that a mother and daughter went missing under unusual circumstances. It seems it could have been Mom’s abusive boyfriend or an alien spacecraft. When Celeste Lee, the little girl who disappeared ten years ago, shows up at Hunter’s house with only the knowledge that she was with scary folks, she has returned to her old home for a reason, and has super powers, it is obvious which culprit for the kidnapping seems to be the best choice.

We all know high school can seem a little like outerspace anyway, so it makes sense that Hunter and his friends are not that freaked out by all the entire crazy hijinx. Also, it is refreshing to see Hunter behaving like a total gentleman to his new super charged naked ward and still crushing on the bespeckled nerdy girl of his dreams. There are a million ways to go with this plot, such as “Why did Celeste need to return? Where is her Mom? Is she a good alien hybrid hot chick or an evil cyborg version of Celeste?” The characters are written in such an authentic and down to earth manner I actually care to get the answers and maybe some more from this book. Celeste also seems to be a little psychic and anxious to coach Hunter out of his social awkwardness. Who doesn’t need someone hot and confident to do that?

The artwork by Emilio Laiso fits in nicely with what I call an “Aspen Comics Style” that in my mind consists of clean but not too clean lines, consistent character features, and an almost cartoon-like sweeter feel to the panels. There is also lots of emphasis on individualized facial expression and emotional truth within the storyline. I would consider that essential, as this book seems character driven with some aliens and fun sci-fi action sequences thrown in for good measure. Groundbreaking it is not, but I for one am just pleased to see teenagers portraying good honest traits without being preachy or lame, and speaking to each other in an awkward sarcastic way that seems natural, not forced. As far as aliens go, these creatures look pretty unique to me too and much more colorful than their standard pop culture, amorphous, grey blobby counterparts. If I was their target, I would wanna run away with the quickness too. Tune in next episode to see if Hunter and his cohorts get away and if Hunter gets a date! P.S. This would make a good TV show too.