The Center Holds #1 Review – BOOM! Studios

The Center Holds #1 kicks off a new BOOM! Studios superhero universe with a premise that feels instantly modern: saving the day now comes with paperwork, liability, and a union card. In this giant-size debut, the story asks a simple question—what happens when heroism becomes a regulated profession?

Super-powered people are everywhere, which means property damage, injuries, and lawsuits are everywhere, too. As a result, costumed do-gooders aren’t just fighting villains; they’re navigating the rules that decide who gets to operate and who gets sued into oblivion. That central hook gives the series immediate authority. Meanwhile, the series still delivers the thing readers want most—high-stakes action—only now every explosion has consequences that linger beyond the final panel.

This project carries significant weight as the final work of artist M.D. “Doc” Bright, working with the legendary Larry Hama. Their collaboration builds a world where public safety, accountability, and power all collide in the same space.

What to Expect in The Center Holds #1

Rather than dropping readers into endless continuity, The Center Holds #1 builds its world through clear, grounded stakes. The Superheroes’ Union is the core idea, and it’s a smart one: it reframes “team-up comics” around labor, accountability, and the economics of rescue. In addition, that bureaucratic framework doesn’t slow the action—it sharpens it. Every punch and explosion has a cost, and the story keeps reminding you that someone has to pay.

One of the early strengths is how the issue balances spectacle with procedure. On one page, you’re tracking a high-risk incident with collateral-damage potential; on the next, you’re watching the systems around hero work—contracts, oversight, and the incentives that shape what “public safety” means when capes are involved. However, the comic never turns into a lecture. It stays character-forward and uses “red tape” to raise tension instead of replacing it.

A fresh angle: hero labor, hero liability

A lot of superhero universes treat accountability as an afterthought. Here, it’s the engine. The Center Holds #1 treats heroism like a job that can burn you out, bankrupt you, or get you blacklisted. That framing opens multiple story lanes at once: union politics, rival operators, corporate pressure, and villains who exploit the rules rather than ignore them. In other words, the threats aren’t just physical—they’re structural.

The new roster is intentionally eclectic. Scyber brings the “genius tech” angle, while Lakshmi adds psychic intuition that can complicate split-second decisions. The Keeper carries a mystery that feels designed to pay off over time, and Nekkotron’s child-prodigy energy injects volatility into any mission briefing. Meanwhile, the world around them looks busy and lived-in—more like a functioning city with a superhero industry than a clean comic-book stage.

If you like tracking launches week to week, this is exactly the kind of series you’ll want to bookmark in our new comics section. And if you judge a series by its visuals first, take a spin through the cover gallery—the launch has a bold central identity and collector-friendly options.

The Creative Team Behind The Center Holds #1

The issue’s voice feels deliberate, which starts with the credited lineup. Larry Hama scripts with a veteran’s control of pacing—clean exposition, sharp scene turns, and dialogue that moves the plot instead of stalling it. Artist M.D. “Doc” Bright builds the world with confident figure work and readable action, so big moments land without confusion. Colorist Josh Burcham keeps the palette crisp and functional; it helps tech, smoke, and urban space separate clearly even when panels get dense. Letterer Janice Chiang keeps the page flow smooth, which matters a lot in a premise that blends action beats with systems and terminology.

Full credited creative team (interiors):

• Writer: Larry Hama
• Artist / Penciler: M.D. “Doc” Bright
• Inker: Not credited for interior pages
• Colorist: Josh Burcham
• Letterer: Janice Chiang
• Editor: Tim Finn
• Executive Editor: Tea Fougner
• Editor-in-Chief: Andy Schmidt

There’s also a real-world note that fits the book’s “heroes and systems” theme: a percentage of sales from The Center Holds #1 will be donated to the Hero Initiative. It’s a meaningful touch that aligns with a series examining what it costs to keep showing up.

Why This Launch Works

The Center Holds #1 succeeds because it doesn’t rely on familiarity. It gives you a hook (a unionized superhero economy), introduces a team with distinct roles, and establishes conflicts that can expand naturally. At the same time, the concept is flexible enough to support street-level stories, large-scale crises, and political power plays.

The union itself becomes a pressure cooker. Heroes are still expected to save lives, but now they’re forced to consider compliance, accountability, and the financial consequences of every decision. Meanwhile, villains don’t just “show up”—they rise within a world that’s already strained by bureaucracy and public expectations. That’s a strong foundation for serialized storytelling: the action can escalate while the rules tighten.

If you want more context and community chatter around new releases like this, check out the comic collecting community and also browse deep-dive reviews for more reads across publishers and genres.

Conclusion

The Center Holds #1 is a confident start that turns superhero chaos into a structured, high-stakes ecosystem—and then dares its characters to survive both villains and the rulebook. If the series keeps leaning into that balance of action and accountability, this BOOM! Studios launch could become one of the more interesting new superhero worlds to watch.

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