“KLANG, KLANG…KLUNK?” In the ultimate display of power, Livewire has plunged the United States into darkness. From coast to coast, once-vital technology has now been rendered worthless… No cars… No phones… No quantum bands?!? Without the high-tech gauntlets that bind them together, the world’s worst superhero team have 24 hours before they disintegrate into nothingness…Now, stripped of their powers and unable to “klang,” can Quantum and Woody become the heroes they’ve always aspired to be and secure the streets of the nation’s capital…before time runs out?

If this were a marvel title, the series would have reset the numbering. But it’s not, and so with a new writer (Eliot Rahal) we’ve also been given a new jumping on point that has the most tenuous of ties to Harbinger Wars II, but if you haven’t read Harbinger Wars II: Prelude then you honestly won’t miss a beat with Quantum And Woody #6. Rahal smartly never explicitly refers to the prelude comic, nor is it required reading before you read this one, because although our heroes are reacting to the consequences of Livewire’s actions, they’re not aware that’s the case and are instead just trying to help the people around them during a blackout.

Quantum And Woody #6 has the world’s worst super team trying to rescue the inhabitants of a tenement building as it succumbs to the burning tendrils and oxygen smothering smoke of a rather large fire. It is into this that our heroes run, in an attempt to save lives, in a comic that reminds me of one of my favourite issues of Wolverine where he runs into a burning building to save a kid; the similarities to the comic don’t end there, as much like Quantum & Woody #6 has a loose tie to Harbinger Wars II, Wolverine #113 was also a loose tie-in to the Onslaught story during the late 90’s. Now to be clear, I am not saying that Rahal has copied, or been influenced by, the previously mentioned Wolverine comic. I don’t even know if he’s read it, nor do I particularly care because beyond the similarities mentioned, these comics have nothing in common.

Moving away from the trip down memory lane, I was genuinely surprised by how much I enjoyed this comic. Rahal comes out of the gate swinging, Francis Portella, Andrew Dalhouse and Dave Sharpe produce a wonderful visual experience, and Valiant once again have a brilliant comic on the racks. That the comic is also an ideal jumping on point for new readers is also a bonus.

Story: Eliot Rahal Art: Francis Portella
Colours: Andrew Dalhouse Letters: Dave Sharpe
Story: 8.8 Art: 8.7 Overall: 8.8 Recommendation: Buy