The Pedestrian hasn’t exactly been a walk down the street thus far. Creators Joey Esposito and Sean Von Gorman have made their quirky superhero story quite the jaunt, exploring ideas of community, the power of the little man, and even questioned the nature of reality. But even as The Pedestrian really makes you put in those steps, the journey is always life-affirming, and a way to tell these big epic stories with relatable ideas and energies.
Variant cover by Brian Level. Courtesy of Magma Comix.
And issue #4 of The Pedestrian manages to somehow both streamline and complicate its own work for another deeply entertaining chapter. Plus, you don’t even need to put your shoes on for this one.
In the ways in which The Pedestrian has pulled back some to get even more direct, that comes as this issue is basically a confrontation between the heinous Klutch and the Pedestrian and his gaggle of citizens (Kira, Sophie, the twins, etc.) Von Gorman (alongside colorist Josh Jensen and letterer Shawn Lee) once more give us some hugely stylized fight scenes, with the grounded but bright and playful style serving as a proper baseline that makes every blow feel so singularly lively and charming.
But there’s so much more to this big battle — it’s the very specific way that The Pedestrian fights (it fits the character perfectly, and just feels so thematically essential); the way street signs are used (again, super clever and really extends the symbolism that defines so much of this book); and even how everyone feels oddly prepared and suited for this throw down.
It’s these little aspects that prove that The Pedestrian isn’t just a different book for the sake of fun or style but because there’s something deeper here. That as we reach an apex of sorts, and things feel more involved and layered than ever before, this clash does so much to cut away that tension and offer joy even as it remains on brand in terms of storytelling and messaging. That this battle isn’t just about feeling big and bold and exciting (one panel with The Pedestrian’s “powers” will blow your socks clear off) — it’s about using that energy to connect us further to the book’s core. How in coming together, it’s really about building lasting communities; how you don’t have to be a hero to fight like one; and that sometimes believing in things you don’t fully understand has so much innate power.
This issue felt like a sugary treat that we find out is actually good for us, and it sneaks in character work and development in such a handy package. (Kira, especially, gets ample time to shine as she really humanizes these proceedings as she grapples with her family life and her recent aimlessness.) It’s everything you’d want in a confrontation like this — a way to let off steam, a way to connect more deeply with the story’s essence, and a way to feel even more enthusiastic as the story prepares its next big turn.
And that’s exactly what happens regarding the rest of this issue. It’d be one thing to say that there’s parts in #4 that make this book even more complicated, which would be a feat considering issue #2 basically showed us the cosmic tendencies and long-term scope of this book. But that “classification” only feels partially true. Because, yes, we get even more insight into this universe, The Pedestrian’s true role and larger powers, and just how far this cosmic rabbit hole goes.
Variant cover by Chris Batista. Courtesy of Magma Comix.
But that robust “introduction” is minimized or contextualized thanks to a handy explanation by Sophie, which is actually a really great move. It widens the world within this story, and we get a sense that the structures here are more involved than we could imagine — there’s places the “gang” visit here that push the metaphysics up a notch or two a la New Gods or the like. But it’s never done to burden or overwhelm readers; instead, it’s about opening a door, letting us peek, making sure we’re properly primed, and then moving on in a way that never feels dismissive but rather is about letting this story and this larger world develop slowly and deliberately, and to make sure we’re always as attuned as possible.
If anything, some of the more robust changes or developments in this issue feel decidedly more grounded. All of that has to do with the Klutch, who seem to face setbacks following the clash but are actually moving into what seems the next phase of their plans. There a couple big-ish reveals in that regard — one involving some personnel within that “organization” and another that not only connects this threat to the city and its people in a way that feels both potentially thrilling and dramatic but also keeps the focus firmly on the humanity of it all.
And that whole approach is just another way The Pedestrian tries to 1) ground our feelings and expectations within the world even as there’s so much developing and forming on the periphery and 2) plays with our perceptions regarding this world’s threats and growth path to once again surprise us and maybe even subvert our expectations. (In that it’s the small threads and web of growing connections and echoes that prove most impactful.) Either way, the issue gets to end with something slightly jaw-dropping (it’s shocking without losing that subtle heft), and that’s just another way The Pedestrian is a book that knows itself and brings you in deeper and deeper in the very best ways.
At this point, I’m not entirely sure where The Pedestrian is going to take us. We’ve been everywhere from the depths of the metaphysical to the busiest street corners in Summer City, and each destination only tells us something new and important about this book.
Wherever we do go, however, I’m almost certain that The Pedestrian will further delight, engage, unsettle, and question as best it can, and give readers a story that may take some unexpected detours but that’s ultimately worth every mile. Now enjoy this scenic peak, bust out a good stretch, and get ready to sprint into the future.
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