Reality Check is a strange one, simply because it’s so mired in not just comic fandom–complete with the protagonist recounting dressing up as Batman and Robin as a kid–but also the comics industry. The protagonist has grown up to become an aspiring comic book creator.
The first issue involves him finally hitting it big. He’s got a Batman knockoff who’s unlucky in love and wears around a costume very similar to Red Robin, with a mix of the John K. Snyder Doctor Mid-Nite. The art’s okay–Viktor Bogdonavic plays up the humor aspects quite well–and writer Glen Brunswick definitely engages the protagonist’s sadness.
Shame it’s exceptionally misogynistic. There are five female characters and all of them are awful in one way or another. Brunswick tries to rationalize a few with–they’re would-be Hollywood starlets, they must be awful.
It’s oddly still worth a look though.
CREDITS
Writer, Glen Brunswick; artist, Viktor Bogdanovic; colorist, Paul Little; letterer, Rus Wooton; publisher, Image Comics.