Ghost Machine is gearing up for its first crossover, and in true comics fashion, it all starts with a brand new series and a whole new perspective. Enter The Trillion Dollar Kid, Tommy Townsend III, the world’s first 13-year-old trillionaire. Given that Elon Musk just became the world’s first trillionaire just days ago, talk about an apt story. Instead of being reviled by many, Tommy has won over his town with fantastical inventions, which is how he got rich in the first place. The problem is, he’s very lonely, so Tommy sets out to uncover the truth behind mysterious beings known as The Unbelievables.
As a person who has mostly only dabbled with Ghost Machine, I can safely say The Trillion Dollar Kid #1 is an easy jumping-on point. That’s largely thanks to the main character being brand-new to everyone and having a pretty compelling origin story. Written by Geoff Johns and Peter J. Tomasi, the issue opens with captions and montaged scenes that establish Tommy’s grandfather as the “good kind” of rich person. Taking after his grandfather, Tommy invents bandages that don’t hurt when they come off, but instead of keeping his wealth hidden like his grandfather, he flaunts it.
Art by Stefano Simeone provides great snapshots of key moments in the opening, such as pizzas being delivered by balloon or a shot of The Unbelievables on their holiday-themed street. It keeps the story moving while giving readers a lot to look at with such a verbose opening.
For serious, can I get one of these fountains in my town?
Credit: Image
Tucked away in that montage is a clue or two, but before you can consider it, the story moves on to Tommy getting well-wishes from his parents and sister for his big day, unveiling a rollercoaster transport system for his town. This is where we meet his robot bodyguard, Sterling, and get a better sense of how he’s perceived by the locals. One can see many adore his contributions, but he’s also just a kid doing kid stuff with his incredible wealth.
Along the way, the story connects to another Ghost Machine book, but mostly it is Tommy’s story. There’s a handy map we’ve pretty much already seen already that connects things, but thankfully, this issue isn’t in your face about a big crossover. Instead, you’ll be invested in the good-hearted Tommy and his search. In a way, this is less of an event and more of a pathway for new readers to discover the universe through Tommy. Throw in a full bio on Tommy at the back of the book, and it’s an easy pickup by anyone mildly interested in Ghost Machine comics.
If you’re looking for a conflict, there really isn’t one, and when paired with some heavier use of dialogue, it can make this book feel more like a primer than an exciting adventure. It does offer a big twist that feels like a payoff for the opening, and a general hook for Tommy’s future endeavors is well established.
Simeone’s art is a huge part of what keeps this story moving, with a bright color palette and an interesting use of Ben-Day dots to draw your eye. There are also a few splashes, like one on a rollercoaster, that elevate a mostly dialogue-driven story into something light and fun. The lightness is key, since Tommy is such a young boy, and the art feels just right for that sort of story.
The Trillion Dollar Kid #1 succeeds by focusing on character first. Geoff Johns and Peter J. Tomasi introduce Tommy as an inventive, lonely teenager whose wealth is far less interesting than his desire for connection and discovery. While the issue occasionally feels more focused on establishing pieces on the board than on delivering immediate thrills, the charm of its lead and the vibrant artwork by Stefano Simeone make it an easy read. By the final pages, Tommy’s journey feels like a doorway into something much larger, giving Ghost Machine a fresh perspective character who is easy to root for and well worth following into the coming crossover.
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