While on a retirement community field trip, a group of ageing ex-Hollywood stars encounter a baby KAIJU on the run from military agents. Bonding quickly with the creature, the cantankerous cadre of former celebrities have to somehow get the kaiju to safety—before it causes the end of the world! Hidden Springs #1 is an intriguing debut that delivers some interesting characters and solid laughs.

Written by Rob Williams, Hidden Springs #1 is an interesting debut with what feels like a mix of influences. People taking care of an alien creature has an ET vibe to it. The fact that they’re from a retirement community has us thinking about Batteries Not Included. Mixed together, it’s a debut that shows a lot of potential for the story but it’s the characters that really have us intrigued and interested.

The debut issue focuses a lot on its cast of characters as they go for a hike in the woods. Each character through the comic is given a lot of depth so we not only have a good sense of who they are but their history and what they might bring to the story. But it also brings together slight sniping and conflict as their personalities clash a bit. There’s a lot of history danced around and teased showing these are people who have been around each other for a long time. It’s that sort of detail that creates a reading experience that feels lived in.

The art by Nil Vendrell is entertaining. With color by Berta Sastre and lettering by Simon Bowland, the comic’s look has a bit of comedic style to it that takes Williams’ dialogue and makes it funny. This could easily be characters who are just sniping at each other and not getting along, but the art shifts the tone a bit, instead packing some laughs to it all.

Hidden Springs #1 has bones that feel like it’s something we’ve seen before, a group protecting an alien from the government, but it’s the characters that makes it stand out with jokes poking fun at its cast but also giving us characters to care about and laugh with. It’s a fun start that takes a familiar concept but delivers a bit of a different spin on it.

Story: Rob Williams Art: Nil Vendrell
Color: Berta Sastre Letters: Simon Bowland
Story: 8.0 Art: 8.0 Overall: 8.0 Recommendation: Read

Dark Horse provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

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Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle