
A superhero whose secret weapon is a bowling ball? Yes, please!
But if you’re itching to see this awesome new concept character, skip issue #1
First issues that introduce legendary superheroes are highly collectible, which means this one is headed for the trash bin. Did someone forget to tell Samberg that the entire point of an origin story is to reveal the superhero’s origin? At this point in the storyline, we’re not entirely sure we even know who the superhero is, much less how he operates, what he looks like, or what he’ll set out to accomplish. We want to know who this oddball superhero is and how that mysterious bowling ball works. But no, we won’t find out until we rush out to buy issue #2. Hey, wait a minute…
Andy Samberg joins Fall Out Boy’s Joe Trohman plus Rick Remender – am I dreaming?
You read it right. Saturday Night Live’s Andy Samberg joins forces with Fall Out Boy’s Joe Trohman and Rick Remender (Uncanny X-Force, Captain America, Deadly Class, Venom) with art by Roland Boschi (Ghost Rider). And a new superhero with one of the coolest costumes we’ve seen in years that fights with a bowling ball? This looks like it’s going to be so much fun!
Thin story. Great artwork.
Holy Roller’s origin story is pretty typical – at least as far as we know from issue #1, which is light in content. I felt like someone took my money and was twisting my arm to buy issue #2 (which, of course, I will). We learn next to nothing about the title character. In fact, we never even met the superhero in issue #1.
Still, there’s enough to lure me into buying into the next round. We can’t wait to see where the story goes. Issue #1 had sparks of clever humor, and Roland Boschi’s artwork is eye-numbingly brilliant, but at this point, all we’re know about Holy Roller is that his Kryptonite is being Jewish. Yeah, Samberg went there.
Now take us home, please.
The Holy Roller #1 – comic book details
Official Synopsis: SERIES PREMIERE Everyone was sitting around wondering when comedy legend ANDY SAMBERG (SNL, Palm Springs) would join super-star writer RICK REMENDER (DEADLY CLASS, LOW) and Fall Out Boy’s multi-talented JOE TROHMAN to write a comic about a vigilante hero who smashes people’s faces with a bowling ball—and everyone’s dreams have come true! With art by the fan-favorite ROLAND BOSCHI (THE SCUMBAG, Wolverine)!To care for his ailing father, pro bowler Levi Coen is forced to quit his dream job and return to his hometown, which he soon discovers has been overrun by Neo-Nazis! With only his bowling ball collection to defend himself, Levi becomes THE HOLY ROLLER, a trick bowling ball-wielding Jewish superhero battling to liberate his home and bowl a perfect game against crime! Kingpin meets Inglourious Basterds meets Batman (that old chestnut) with equal parts action and humor in this special introductory issue with 42 full pages of story! Two issues for the price of one! Three writers for the price of one! Same great low price!
Publisher: Image Comics
Release Date: November 22, 2023
Format: Comic
Page Count: 48
Cover Price: $3.99
Writers: Joe Trohman, Andy Samberg, Rick Remender
Artists: Roland Boschi
Colorists: Roland Boschi
Cover Artists: Roland Boschi, JH Williams III, Brett Parson, Keron Grant, Brian Level, Mike Hawthorne, Rafael Albuquerque