DC’s “Next Level” initiative gives Deadman a bold and refreshing relaunch, and The Deadman #1 immediately stands apart from the usual supernatural fare. Writer W. Maxwell Prince teams with artist Martin Morazzo and colorist Chris O’Halloran to reimagine Boston Brand’s place in the afterlife, transforming the former circus aerialist into something closer to a cosmic custodian. It’s weird, eerie, funny, and surprisingly charming all at once.
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The first thing that grabbed me was Morazzo’s art style. His exaggerated expressions and surreal visuals inject the series with a unique personality that feels completely different from previous Deadman stories. Boston Brand literally cleaning up as a janitor and then guiding souls in the afterlife sounds absurd on paper, but the creative team commits to the concept so fully that it works almost immediately. The issue embraces the strange and turns it into something memorable.
What impressed me most was how Prince balances that weirdness with the heart of the character. Deadman often leans heavily into tragedy and melancholy, but this new direction gives Boston a lighter, more energetic edge without losing the emotional core that defines him. The tone actually reminded me of when Mark Waid and Paolo Rivera relaunched Daredevil with a brighter outlook that still respected the character’s pain underneath. This creative team pulls off a similar balancing act here.
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That devil-may-care attitude fits Boston surprisingly well. These new definitions of his role in the afterlife open the door for all kinds of supernatural comedy and bizarre world-building. At times, the issue almost feels like Beetlejuice filtered through the DC Universe, especially as the story explores spiritual bureaucracy and soul management. But the issue also knows when to get creepy.
That’s where Morazzo and O’Halloran truly shine. The gradual reveal of the issue’s villain and his horrifying harpies creates a strong sense of dread. O’Halloran’s colors add a grimy, supernatural atmosphere that contrasts perfectly with the book’s humor. The final pages introduce a genuinely unsettling threat and give the series the darker edge it needs moving forward.
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Overall, The Deadman #1 succeeds because it fully commits to its strange premise while still honoring what makes Boston Brand compelling. The energy, imagination, and eerie visuals make this one of DC’s more intriguing launches in the “Next Level” line. If the creative team can continue balancing humor, horror, and heart, this series could become something special.
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