Enginehead #1- "The rest of the world was falling apart, too? Would that make you feel better or worse? What if I told you that you could still do something about it?"

So begins Enginehead, an eight part series written by Joe Kelly and drawn by Ted McKeever. The opening pages have a ship disintegrating and falling from space. As the ship makes its way towards Earth, someone asks the aforementioned questions. The ship lands in a fireball in a place called Leadbelly. Next we turn to Brooklyn where two brothers squabble while torturing a bookie. The Corrado brothers, Samuel and Ford, have a falling out. Ford talks to Sam's parole officer, slipping him a few bucks, to make his files go away. No such luck for Ford as the shifty parole officer asks he would like to do some side work, which he refuses claiming he has a date. Ford Corrado, aka Jackhammer, was once a member of the mechanically enhanced crime syndicate known as the Toolbox, and unbeknownst to him a back-up candidate for the Enghinehead program, though some doubt his worthiness. Ford's date ends up being a fossil fuel guzzling auto in a non-ventilated garage. Carbon Monoxide take me away. As Ford is about to drift into unconsciousness, the garage door is ripped open by one Grease Monkey, a rather messed up looking character.

Meanwhile in Detroit, we shift to the "Mechanic" who is trying to recruit Tin to become a part of Enginehead. Fear grips Tin and he flees, and with him the Mechanic's dream of Enginehead becoming a reality. But wait, there is Ford...

Ford awakens with five people staring over him. Automan, Rosie the Riveter, Emil Hamilton, Doctor Cyber, and Brainstorm squabble amongst themselves and debate whether Corrado is the one for the project. When next we see Ford he is about to become part of the machine. All is in readiness as the Mechanic lowers the five volunteers and the hesitant Ford into the machine. The result is a devastating explosion. The Mechaninc is hurt and Grease Monkey is concerned. Mechanic's only concern is his failure to melt six into one. Suddenly the door flies off the machine and Enginehead emerges...

Great first issue. Of course, like most beginnings, there is a lot happening in the story. We get bits and pieces that will be elaboratedated on as the story unfolds. With that, I really can't comment much on Joe Kelly's writing. I am completely unfamiliar with his style or ability. The issue seemed well written and the story seems very original. The art on the other hand is cool. I am not familiar with Ted McKeever either. But the art in this issue is very complimentary for the characters and the story. A very loose style that is very shadowy. I am looking forward to issue #2 which is out tomorrow.