I’ll be the first to admit that my memories of the original cartoon are a bit fuzzy. I remember the iconic green watch, the cool alien transformations, and the general vibe of a kid on a never-ending summer road trip. Seeing Ben 10 back in comic form feels like finding an old toy in the attic that still works perfectly. Written by Joe Casey with art by Robert Carey, Ben 10 #1 does exactly what it needed to do to set the stage for this new series, even if it doesn’t reinvent the wheel.
Title: Ben 10 #1 (Dynamite)
Creatives: Joe Casey (Writer), Robert Carey (Artist), Ren Spiller (Colorist), Taylor Esposito (Letterer)
Characters: Ben Tennyson, Gwen Tennyson, Grandpa Max
Villain: Vilgax, Cyber-Bear, Colonel Rozum
Format: Ongoing Series
Our Rating: 8.2/10 Stars
The Story Kicks Off with Some Serious Space Drama
The issue doesn’t waste time getting to the good stuff. We start way out in space, where Vilgax is being his usual terrifying self. I totally forgot how imposing this guy was, but Carey’s art makes him look like a genuine galactic threat. He’s hunting for a weapon that landed on Earth, and that weapon is obviously the Omnitrix. Cut to the woods of Earth, and we find Ben Tennyson bickering with Gwen Tennyson while Grandpa Max tries to keep the peace. Their dynamic is instantly recognizable. It’s that classic “stuck in a camper for three months” energy that anyone who grew up with the show will remember.
The plot takes a turn when Ben storms off and literally stumbles into the alien device. When it jumps onto his wrist, the green glow from colorist Ren Spiller is so bright it almost feels like it’s vibrating off the digital page. The lettering by Taylor Esposito during the transformation scenes adds a lot of energy to the action, with sound effects that feel heavy and physical. Ben doesn’t just change; he goes through a wild, almost scary physical shift that makes the powers feel a bit scarier than I remember, but then again, it’s been a while.
That Cyber-Bear Fight Is a Total Standout
The best part of the issue is easily the fight with a cybernetic grizzly bear. I don’t remember if the show had mechanical animals, but this thing is a beast. It’s got metal plates fused to its fur and glowing red eyes, and it corners Ben before he even knows how the watch works. Watching him accidentally turn into Four Arms to wrestle a robot bear was peak unashamed nostalgia for me. Carey’s art gives these aliens a ton of weight. Four Arms looks like he could actually lift a truck, and the way he interacts with the environment feels grounded.
Ben eventually switches over to Heatblast, and the colors go from forest greens to blinding oranges and yellows. It’s a chaotic scene because Ben has zero control. He’s basically a walking forest fire, and it attracts a lot of unwanted attention, namely the U.S. military, led by a guy named Colonel Rozum. It’s a great way to show that Ben has more than just Vilgax to worry about; he has the whole US army!
Playing Within the Lines
If there is a critique, it’s that this book doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel. It feels very much like the cartoon in comic form. This approach works perfectly fine if you’re a fan who just wants to relive the glory days of the original series. However, if you’re a reader expecting a total deconstruction or an “absolute” reimagining, this comic is not that; instead, it opts for something that feels very safe. Whether this is a good thing or a bad thing depends entirely on what you want from this series.
Verdict: Should you buy Ben 10 #1?
Overall, Ben 10 #1 is a win for anyone who loved the show as a kid but hasn’t thought about it in years. While it doesn’t reinvent the wheel and basically feels like the cartoon in comic form, it balances that cozy summer-road-trip nostalgia with a sci-fi edge that many of us grew up with. Whether the series eventually needs to be more than a faithful tribute is up for debate, but if you’re looking for an action-packed reason to jump back into the Tennyson family chaos, this is it.
‘Ben 10’ #1 Review: Dynamite Reboots the Classic Cartoon Series
Ben 10 #1 is a win for anyone who loved the show as a kid but hasn’t thought about it in years. While it doesn’t reinvent the wheel and basically feels like the cartoon in comic form, it balances that cozy summer-road-trip nostalgia with a sci-fi edge that many of us grew up with. Whether the series eventually needs to be more than a faithful tribute is up for debate, but if you’re looking for an action-packed reason to jump back into the Tennyson family chaos, this is it.
