Growing up, as a child of 1980s, there was no other era more lauded in recent memory than that decade. Popular culture was in a lovely crux where it still enjoyed the advancements of the 1970s with a new definition of rebel. This definition was further defined by the movies of the era which includes the now problematic but still prolific John Hughes. Most of his movies included young actors who would go no to change the movie business.

One such actor is Tom Cruise; whose onscreen presence not only carries gravitas but exudes magnetism. One such movie, which propelled him to cinematic icon, is Top Gun. The movie by itself, was a hybrid of sorts, as it hearkened back to war fighter pilot movies of 1960s and the new action movies of the 1980s. In the first issue of Tuskegee Heirs, we meet a band of ragtag young pilots much like the ones we saw in that classic movie.

In the opening pages, we meet Slip, Genesis, Ayanna and Omar, a squadron of cadets who are simulating dogfights, showing off their aerial skills, as it is 2081, and commercial flying has been outlawed. We also meet Colonel Mars, who is bringing on a recruit, Able, a naturally gifted pilot and a fierce student of planes, as what draws him to the 332^nd Fighting Squadron, is the P-51s, the same planes the Tuskegee Airman flew. Soon the cadets are called in for an extraction mission and are also upgraded to their mecha planes. By issue’s end, the cadets fight a set of mecha robots but ultimately defeat them to liv another day.

Overall, an excellent first issue to a series that feels both futuristic and progressive. It’s a book which kills it at ever angle. The story by Marcus Williams and Greg Burnham is fast paced, electric and entertains on every page. The art by Williams is stunning. Altogether, the book more than earns its fans as the story wins on all levels.

Story: Marcus Williams and Greg Burnham Art: Marcus Williams
Story: 9.7 Art: 9.4 Overall: 9.6 Recommendation: Buy