The mightiest team of superheroes are back! A throw-down with a prehistoric terror in the heart of Washington D.C. sets the stage for the dramatic return of a wayward hero! Meanwhile, half a world away, a sinister plan begins to awaken an ancient evil!
MIGHTY CRUSADERS #1
Written by: Ian Flynn
Art: Kelsey Shannon
Colors by: Matt Herms
Lettered by: Jack Morelli
Writing
Right from the start, this comic’s pacing really stood out. Ian Flynn starts with a great action scene that also effectively introduces all the Crusaders and reveals their powers. We also get a sense of everyone’s personality and ‘voice’ through some really good dialogue and character interaction. It’s a classic superhero brawl that really brought a smile to my face.
The story also cuts to a building mystery in the desert that really works well too. Again we are given enough information without falling into exposition. This scene has enough menace and intrigue to keep us interested. It is also the part of the story that ends the comic on a cliffhanger; it makes you want to pick up the next issue.
One of my favorite sequences though was a straight up conversation between the original The Shield, Joe Higgins, and the new one, Victoria. The scene not only establishes a nice legacy feeling to this world but also showcases some great characterization and also seems to plant seeds for something larger that may be going on. A similar conversation between The Web and the new Shield is also really good. Flynn is nailing these characters and making them very readable.
Art
Kelsey Shannon and Matt Herms illustrated a very nice looking book here. There is a welcome cartoony vibe to the pencils that are heightened by the vibrant coloring. It gives the book an ‘animated’ feel while still also having a classic comic book style in its layouts and panel placement. The character designs are sleek, but also have a nice throwback look to them. 
There is also some great lettering work done here, specifically with villain Dino Rex, who has a distinct voice due to his word balloons.
Conclusion
Mighty Crusaders might not be a household name like one of the team books from the Big Two, but if you want a superhero team book that will give you plenty of action, fun and great characters without being bogged down by massive crossover or years of reboot baggage, then this is perfect. It also seems right for readers of all ages, making it accessible to a wide variety of fandom. Pick this up when it hits comic shops on December 6th.!
