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While in school — be it high school or college or grade school — you may have had a mentor that you looked up to for guidance or direction. There may have been a situation where you thought, “Blast it! I really need a mentor to help me through this predicament.” Son of Vulcan #1 addresses this situation and explores the idea through the relationship between Vulcan (the hero from a portal world), and Miguel Devante, a courageous orphaned youngster searching for a better of life.

While Miguel’s friend Sienna videotapes him for a class, Miguel (also known as Mikey) must suddenly contend with a raving lunatic who’s shouting, “This place is a slaughterhouse!” because the salad bar is serving wilted veggies. The gentleman (or lunatic) is known as Woodrue the Floronic Man. Yes, he is a plant, and he is human — sort of. Woodrue starts a ruckus, and looking on from far away is Vulcan. Praetor (a voice out of nowhere similar to Kitt on the Knight Rider TV series) has already advised Vulcan of an earlier situation concerning Woodrue.

Vulcan is not too familiar to this world; his name is Erich Thonius, keeper of the flaming sword. The flaming sword is from the original Vulcan, handed down through the generations to those who are worthy. Vulcan descends from a portal and seems to have vanquished Woodrue. Woodrue has the last laugh as he spurts seeds of doubt at Vulcan, and immobilizes him. The Floronic Man is about to end Vulcan’s life when Mikey picks up the flaming sword and cuts off Woodrue’s arm. The panels depicting this scene are hilarious but graphically subtle. Ok, in general it’s not funny to have your arm whacked off, but this was funny.

Vulcan is appreciative of Mikey’s courageous act, and because of this Vulcan decides to make Mikey his sidekick. Vulcan made the decision once he researched and realized that Mikey was also being abused at the orphanage by his counselor. This counselor had his own brand of justice, a ruler named “the message.” The panels of Mikey and the counselor are upsetting but poignant.

On Mikey’s first assignment he is given a training sword. Unlike Vulcan’s flaming sword, Mikey’s can’t cut. As they confront an enemy the pair think it’s the Floronic Man. They are mistaken; this villain is more deadly and attacks and kills Vulcan in front of Mikey.

Now think of this scenario. You are standing there in a new suit of armor with a super-hero that is now slumped over dead. You are holding a sword that is useless confronting a villain you know nothing about.

What to do?

This is a quirky and captivatingly presented story written by Scott Beatty. The Floronic Man could be Vulcan’s all-time nemesis, what Joker is to Batman. (A note: read the word bubbles carefully.) The artwork by Keron Grant is amazing with fluid movement of the characters’ reactions and expressions. The characters are reminiscent of an anime cartoon, but visually stable in the panels. The clever angle and views expressed by the editor and the artist are dramatic. The editors, Jeanine Schaefer and Tom Palmer Jr., edit the panels and storyboards perfectly. The coloring by Danimation pops out the visuals to the story nicely.

Son of Vulcan has energy and a depth of realism. It has a message of hope for young people to realize that no matter what obstacles you have in life someone always will have confidence in you and your abilities, whether it be a teacher, parent, mentor, or even a superhero named Vulcan.