DAMAGE CONTROL #1/ Scripts by ADAM F. GOLDBERG, HANS RODIONOFF & CHARLOTTE (FULLERTON) MCDUFFIE/ Art by WILL ROBSON & JAY FOSGITT/Colors by RUTH REDMOND/ Letters by VC’S CLAYTON COWLES/ Published by MARVEL COMICS

Dwayne McDuffie’s influence on modern comics can not be understated. Much has been written about the importance of Milestone Media, which he helped found, and his work on Justice League Unlimited is considered by many to be the best distillation of comic books into animation ever made. But before that, McDuffie made his mark on the Marvel Universe with Damage Control – a series that, while largely comedic in tone, took a serious look at the underpinnings of a society with superheroes and how a modern metropolis would handle the problems caused by a constant need to rebuild following major super-brawls.

The first issue of the 2022 Damage Control series seems to be cut from the same cloth. The main story by Adam F. Goldberg and Hans Rodionoff reintroduces the organization for the benefit of new readers, while explaining their expanded mission. Beyond rebuilding New York City after the weekly invasions by various aliens races and Atlantis, Damage Control are also charged with retrieving and safely storing any advanced technology or magical artifacts that might be left behind after the fighting is over. This introduction is delivered to us through the eyes of Gus, a lowly intern who just started what promises to be an interesting first day on the job… assuming he survives.

The artwork by Will Robson suits this chapter well. Robson’s style is lively and invites favorable comparison to Todd Nauck in how he draws the character’s expressions. The humor of the script and the action are well-conveyed.

The back-up story for this issue is more cartoonish in tone, but is no less enjoyable. The artwork by Jay Fosgitt is reminiscent of Kyle Baker’s work on Plastic Man. This as a perfect fit for the story, written by Charlotte (Fullerton) McDuffie, which details the complications caused when Bart the Head Intern has to deal with the twin problems of his mother visiting the office and her being transformed into a rampaging monster by the Reality Gem.

The humorless need not consider Damage Control, but they are unworthy of its joy. The rest of us, who can enjoy the idea of Nightcrawler and Quicksilver being recruited to work the mailroom on a busy day without thinking too hard about it, will find this book hilarious.