I picked up this comic without knowing anything about it.
The cover and the Astiberri label were enough to convince me there might be something interesting inside. And yes, there is. Although, to be honest, not as much as I expected.
The reasons are below. But first, let me explain what this is about.
Índice de Contenidos del Artículo
- The plot
- What I liked
- What I miss
- The TV series
- Conclusions
- Technical sheet
- Frequently asked questions
- What is The Neighbor, Vol. 1 about?
- Is it a superhero comic in the usual sense?
- Is The Neighbor, Vol. 1 worth reading?
- Is it an entertaining read?
- What is the best thing about the comic?
- What is the worst thing about The Neighbor, Vol. 1?
- How many pages does The Neighbor, Vol. 1 have?
- Do you need to read the following volumes?
- Is it similar to the TV series?
- Who would I recommend this comic to?
The plot
José Ramón is preparing for civil-service exams.
His life is defined by that. By that and by how little attention he gets from the girls he likes, such as the supermarket cashier or his neighbor.
Suddenly, one day, he discovers that the annoying neighbor who won’t let him study the way he would like is actually Titán, a superhero. And a rather cheeky one, too.
From that point on, his life changes forever.
With these ingredients, Santiago García builds a simple, almost slice-of-life plot —beyond the detail that Javier, alias Titán, is a superhero— in which the characters and dialogue carry more weight than situations or events.
And of course, with a civil-service exam candidate in the middle, the tone of the work could hardly be epic. It is rather calm and restrained, with a bit of comedy, a bit of humor and rather more about relationships than romance.
What I liked
We are looking at a good comic. It reads quickly and is entertaining.
The characters are well built and the script, by Santiago García, gives us some good moments.
As for the artwork, by the Malaga-born Pepo Pérez, there is nothing bad to point out either. Simple linework and expressive characters that fit the script and the type of work well.
So, if the script is good and the artwork is too, why do I find it hard to recommend this work?
What I miss
A little more ambition. Or, rather, emotion.
Yes, this is not a superhero comic in the usual sense, not by any stretch, but it is not a parody of the genre either, although it has the odd touch in that direction. Deep down, this is a character story. The problem is that it feels a little flat.
Not very interesting.
By contrast, and so you understand me better, the plots in Paco Roca’s comics, to name a perhaps better-known author, are even more slice-of-life and slow-paced, but the Valencian makes them entertaining. He makes you want to keep reading them.
That did not happen to me here.
Since the volume is very light —57 pages— and well written, you finish it. But it leaves no mark.
From what I have read, things improve in the following volumes. Maybe, although for now I am not going to check. I have other, more stimulating reading pending right now.
The TV series
The thing is that, when I read the plot, the story sounded familiar. But not from the comic.
Then it clicked: it sounded familiar because I had read the review of the TV series based on this comic.
I have not seen it, so I cannot tell you whether it is better, worse, faithful or unfaithful to the original material, but with Nacho Vigalondo involved, it surely has something interesting.
When I watch it, I will confirm it (or not) here.
Conclusions
Deep down, The Neighbor, Vol. 1 is a pleasant comic that you finish in no time without feeling that you have wasted your time. And that is not nothing.
The problem is that it does not offer much more.
So, if you have other reading pending, I would tell you to prioritize it over this work. Because you are not missing anything.
Maybe when the five planned volumes are published and the complete work can be assessed, my opinion of this opening will change. In fact, it would not surprise me.
But for now, this volume 1 gives what it gives.
Technical sheet
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| Title | The Neighbor 1 |
| Series | The Neighbor |
| Script | Santiago García |
| Artwork | Pepo Pérez |
| Color | Pepo Pérez |
| Publisher | Astiberri |
| Collection | CMYK / Sillón Orejero, according to the edition consulted |
| Year of publication | 2004 |
| Pages | 64 pages in the publisher’s listing / around 57 pages of reading according to the review |
| Format | Hardcover album / hardback |
| Original language | Spanish |
| Country | Spain |
| Genre | Slice-of-life comic, humor, drama, superheroes |
| Main characters | José Ramón, Javier / Titán, Lola |
| Premise | José Ramón, a civil-service exam candidate, discovers that his neighbor Javier is actually Titán, a rather un-epic superhero |
| ISBN volume 1 edition | 978-84-95825-71-1 |
| ISBN collected edition The Neighbor 1 and 2 | 978-84-92769-28-5 |
| ISBN collected edition The Neighbor: Origin | 978-84-17575-67-0 |
| Audiovisual adaptation | Netflix TV series, directed by Nacho Vigalondo and starring Quim Gutiérrez and Clara Lago |
Rating
Who it is for
✔️ If you like slice-of-life comics with a touch of humor✔️ If you are interested in a different take on the superhero genre
✔️ If you are looking for a brief, light read that is easy to finish
✔️ If you enjoy dialogue and characters more than action
Who it is not for
❌ If you expect an intense or spectacular superhero story❌ If you need a fast-paced plot with big twists
❌ If you are looking for a comic that leaves a lasting impression or feels especially memorable
❌ If you have too many pending reads
Frequently asked questions
What is The Neighbor, Vol. 1 about?
The Neighbor, Vol. 1 tells the story of José Ramón, a rather gray civil-service exam candidate whose life changes when he discovers that his neighbor is actually Titán, a superhero. From there, the comic mixes slice-of-life storytelling, humor and personal relationships with a very un-epic take on the superhero genre.
Is it a superhero comic in the usual sense?
No. Although there is a superhero in the story, the approach is not that of a traditional action comic. Here, dialogue, small everyday situations and the relationship between characters matter much more than epic moments or big confrontations.
Is The Neighbor, Vol. 1 worth reading?
Yes, but with caveats. It is a short, pleasant and correct read that goes down well. The problem is that it lacks a little more strength, emotion or ambition to become truly memorable.
Is it an entertaining read?
Yes. It reads quickly, never gets heavy and has some nice moments. That said, one thing is being entertaining and another is leaving a mark. In my case, I found it pleasant, but not especially stimulating.
What is the best thing about the comic?
The best is in its characters, in some dialogues and in that way of bringing the superhero genre down to a much more everyday terrain. Besides, Pepo Pérez’s artwork works well with the light tone of the story.
What is the worst thing about The Neighbor, Vol. 1?
What weighs it down most is a certain feeling of flatness. It is well made, but it lacks spark. It never quite generates much emotion or makes you especially eager to keep reading.
How many pages does The Neighbor, Vol. 1 have?
It is a very short volume, around 57 pages, so it can be read in very little time.
Do you need to read the following volumes?
Not necessarily. This first volume works as a first contact with the universe and the characters. From what people say, the story improves in later installments, but this volume on its own leaves a somewhat limited impression.
Is it similar to the TV series?
I cannot judge it first-hand because I have not seen the series. I can say that the premise is the same and that the TV adaptation has attracted quite a bit of interest, among other things because Nacho Vigalondo is involved.
Who would I recommend this comic to?
I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys slice-of-life comics, light stories and unconventional reinterpretations of the superhero genre. Not so much to anyone looking for action, intensity or a particularly powerful work.
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