OneMetal.com REVIEW:
Neverland #0

More than a flimsy prelude, Neverland #0 devises an ominous telling of Peter Pan and his well-known fantasy adventures. Company president Joe Brusha and Jean-Paul DeShong morph the childhood feel-good lore into a psychological account of daredevil little boys who refuse to grow up.

The issue contains decent preliminary information in its terse 23 pages, showcasing characters and places both new and old. Beginning with a nightmare, the comic book introduces the classic character, Wendy Darling, now the aunt of two youths, Michael and John (named after her brothers). Together they discuss a few faces from Wendy’s past, but unfortunately Brusha leaves their actual identities somewhat ambiguous. Instead, we must utilize a supposedly intimate knowledge bank regarding the original Peter Pan tale; on the flip side, the sundry iconic characters who truly count are difficult to miss. Brusha replaces the two-dimensional, outlandish individuals we once knew with seemingly more developed ones. “Captain Hook” (or someone who resembles him) aka Nathan Cross secretes a pitiful and desperate demeanor while Tinker Bell and Peter Pan are much more nefarious.

The plot fragments available to us are clear, at the least. Children are disappearing from their beds, with only pixel dust marking their abductions. Meanwhile, Peter Pan rules Neverland, collecting children and chasing after Wendy, his presumably future bride. Neverland #0 dangles many teasers over hungry crocodile jaws, and like the crocs, we’re hungry for a surely satisfying treat. Thankfully, we’ll be able to explore the not-so-friendly world in this month’s first full issue. Don’t forget: Second star to the right, and straight on till morning. But Never Never Land might not exist quite how you remember it.

Bottom Line

Neverland #0 makes a nice but not perfect splash. Either way, it promises a grand entrance for the upcoming comic.