by Kevin Gaussoin, Editor-in-Chief

Ruben Kwan and the Midlife (or How to Hero at Fifty!) people in his life are some of the most realistic characters in any comic book ever. Imagine learning at fifty that you’ve had super powers all your life. Imagine a secret agency is after you because of this. Imagine finding out just how you got them from one of these secret agents. What would you do? 

I’ve wanted super powers all my life. Ruben Kwan has them! But he’s hated and/or feared! Ugh, I still want super powers myself, don’t you? 

Official Description:
Ruben Kwan tries to save a young legacy firefighter while dealing with the threat of the Maroon Suits. He learns some shocking new information about his past that may explain his special abilities, but the ramifications of this news could mean the unthinkable. Is it possible his father is still alive?

Creative Team:
Writer Brian Buccellato
Artist: Stefano Simeone
Letterer: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou

I have had some much going on in my life lately that I haven’t gotten any reviews of my own posted in weeks. Work, training, re-certifying, family events, illness, and trying to keep up with family and taking enough time to relax so my head doesn’t spin off. If I had super powers like Ruben Kwan? If I had people following me around trying to capture or kill me because of these powers? Well, I would be drinking, but not Midori. That’s just gross, Ruben.

The origin of Midlife (or How to Hero at Fifty!) is that Ruben works for the fire department but since his father died on the job as a firefighter, Ruben has spent his career too afraid of fire to actually fight fires (which is kinda parallel to my job stuff as well). Anyway, long story short: Our boy find himself in a fire one day and doesn’t get burned at all. He soon learns that not only is he impervious to fire, but he can push it away from himself as well. Naturally he immediately adopts a super-hero identity and starts using his powers for good. But how did he ever get these powers?

Now, in Midlife (or How to Hero at Fifty!) Issue Five we have Agent Brown, one of the maroon suits (Buccatello’s answer to Hazel and Cha-Cha, Jules and Vincent, Hank and Gomey… You get it) still held captive by Ruben & co. in a cheap motel. This time instead of getting tortured for information by Ruben’s wife, Ms. Brown is instead threatening to tell Ruben how he really got his powers, mwa-ha-ha! 

Artist Stefano Simeone once again proves that he is perfect artist to pair with Buccallato for this story. Simeone has the emotional storytelling of the best Disney artists, delivering to each panel more story than seems possible in a regular length comic book. The art in Midlife (or How to Hero at Fifty!) feels akin to something as dynamic as Into The Spider-Verse while letting us know that this story is far more firmly rooted in a real reality. The stakes are realistic as the flames licking at the firemen Ruben once again saves.

At the end of Midlife (or How to Hero at Fifty!) Issue Five… Now that Ruben has acted, now that we’ve learned about Detective Green, now that the stakes are raised… Are you ready for the last issue of volume one coming up next month? 

Rating:
ComicsOnline gives Midlife (or How to Hero at Fifty!) Issue Five – 5 out of 5 middle aged super heroes.

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