I can honestly say that growing up in the 1980s, was a real treat, for nerds everywhere as we were exposed to some of the best and the most innovative entertainment. The reverberations of my generation can still be felt in all mediums of entertainment , as shows like The Goldbergs, stands as a testament to just how influential , the popular culture of the era was and still is. The era was also filled with more action heroes than one can count on one hand, as I remembered many great TV shows like Fall Guy, A-Team and Knight Rider, had heroes that every kid in America wanted to be and urged our parents to buy their action figures. Then there were TV shows, that were truly unsung, until years later, when retro loving sites such as AV Club, gives it, it’s just due.

I can think of many TV shows, that fit this category, and yet to find it under any spotlight such as Stingray and the original Denzel Washington –less Equalizer. Another TV show, which I remembered that fits this category, and actually exceeded the expectations of its less than stellar movie counterparts, was Airwolf. The show surrounded a high tech military helicopter and the crew that supported it, as I remember people synopsizing it as “Knight Rider with propellers.” The show was more than that , it was spy craft with tons of action usually in high stake situations, and spoke very much of the times, as America was involved in the Cold War.

IDW has continued the missions of Airwolf, in its comic series, and to extremely interesting results, and none which were good. I came into reading this collection, hoping IDW would continue their string of successes in nostalgia comics, but this one falls flat on its face. This collection reintroduces you to the characters from the TV show as well as to new characters to bring it up to date. Sad to say, this collection comes off as no more than “a bad guy of the week” series as not one story I can talk truly of note.

Overall, I came into the trade paperback, hoping to relive the adventures of Stringfellow Hawke and rest of the Airwolf crew, and their struggles with the Firm, and felt seriously cheated, having met a poor copycat. The stories by Mike Baron, Jeff Mariotte, Marc Andreyko, Barbara Kesel, Rob Worley, Marc Bernardin and Adam Freeman, were very much well intentioned but uninspired. The art by Jean Froes and Fabiano Neves, were probably the only highlight, but paired with the average stories contributed, diminishes their contributions. Altogether, IDW and the talented team, on this project, should have seriously construed their plans, as execution is always key, as this serves as a perfect example of when it is poorly done.

Story: Mike Baron, Jeff Mariotte, Marc Andreyko, Barbara Kesel, Rob Worley, Marc Bernardin & Adam Freeman Art: Jean Froes and Fabiano Neves
Story: 3 Art: 7 Overall: 5 Recommendation: Pass

IDW Publishing provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review