They say legacy is determined by the actions that you take today. But what if your actions are fueled by drinking and partying? For Jenny Tetsuo, her legacy is carved in a celebutante lifestyle. Once an admirable agent of the Action Science Police, an elite line of defense against creatures plaguing the world, Jenny is exhausted. Nothing is more unmotivating than living up to her late father’s superhero legacy, Mega Commander Zero. So what’s left for her to do? Party, of course. Jenny Zero #1 is the perfect blend of irresponsible mischief and kaiju-slaying, a story about an imperfect heroine trying to do her best in a crazy world.
We’ve certainly seen our fair share of the kaiju genre across entertainment. But it’s Jenny’s drunken temperament in a dire world that sets Jenny Zero #1 apart from the rest. Despite the world crumbling under the feet of monsters, Jenny knows how to have fun. She parties hard. She chases narcotic thrills and lives in a constant hangover. And although her defiance against her father’s heroism is what drives her to live in debauchery, there’s no denying her natural talent of killing giant beasts.
Faced with the pressure of becoming the hero the world needs, Jenny manages to flawlessly carry herself with a devil-may-care attitude that’s enviable. Dave Dwonch and Brockton McKinney brilliantly combine Jenny’s drunken humor with thrilling action, creating a purely fun comic. But that’s not to say the story in Jenny Zero #1 is just about shallow fun. In fact, Dwonch and McKinney spend as much time highlighting ecstatic glee as they do about responsibility and parental contrition.
Dark Horse Comics
In an uncomfortable scene between Jenny and her uncle, we dive deeper into her burden of shame, disappointment, and duty. Do we ever get to escape the burden of legacy or are we forced to carry it for the rest of our lives? It’s a sensitive look at the other half of Jenny’s booze-filled life and Dwonch and McKinney subtly touch on the realities of taking responsibility for your actions and establishing balance, even in a chaotic sci-fi world.
And speaking of chaos, Jenny Zero #1 is full of explosive, epic action. With nods to classic anime and monster movies, the colossal presence of whimsical creatures is visually arresting. Magenta King’s art and Megan Huang’s colors are simply gorgeous. Orange skies, showers of blood, and decimated buildings all blend together to create a perfect kaiju concoction. A fantastic double-page spread depicts Jenny looking out into a city in rubble, buried under the destruction of jellyfish-like creatures, swimming manically through skyrise buildings.
Grand battle collisions aren’t the only scenes on display in Jenny Zero #1. Huang’s bright neon palette brings a futuristic sci-fi world to life. From a gnarly fish gun to a crowd of sweaty, intoxicated party-goers, King and Huang’s work is stimulating and vibrant. Intoxicated crowds are smothered in neon purples and pinks, baby blues, and pastel greens. King does a fantastic job capturing a buzzing atmosphere and lustful pleasure as we witness Jenny’s haven.
Jenny Zero #1 is a fun adventure that captures the chaotic glee of slaying monsters, partying hard, and teenage recklessness. Following Jenny’s shaken and imperfect attempt to become a hero, this is pure over-the-top kaiju action.
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