The Rocketeer & The Spirit: Pulp Friction #1

When a murder occurs in Central City but the body is discovered the next day in Los Angeles The Spirit, Commissioner Dolan, and Ellen take a trip to the coast to investigate in this new cross-promotional comic from DC Comics and IDW. On arriving in LA, the good folks from Central City are ambushed by masked man with a jetpack in a classic hero misunderstanding that introduces The Spirit to The Rocketeer for the first time.

Fans of both characters will get their money's worth here, although The Spirit does seem a little out of place in the sunny settings of Los Angeles rather than the shadow streets of Central City. Mark Waid provides some nice humor not only for both heroes (who spend a good part of this issue fighting in the sky) but also for Ellen and Betty, both of whom take a shine to the other woman's man.

I'm glad to see Waid and Paul Smith bring these two characters together, but it reminds me of the vast library of great characters DC's New 52 has closed the door on (which I guess is better than the ones they've gotten completely wrong). Worth a look.

[DC/IDW, $3.99]