Does the cult TV show thrive as a comic book?  Read on to find out.

The official description from IDW:

Overseen by the original writing staff of the television series, Jericho is back with a vengeance, with a whole new chapter of stories told in the show’s official continuity.  If you are a fan of Jericho you cannot afford to miss this compelling all-new series!

In the tradition of nail-biting suspense and intrigue that fans of the show—and the comic—have come to expect and love, Jericho Season Four picks up where Season Three left off. Though Jake and Hawkins are happy to be back in Jericho, the challenges they face are daunting. Not only are they fugitives in their own hometown, but they find themselves forced to play host to the newest member of the Jericho community—John Smith… a man who some know as a friend of the resistance, but who Jake and Hawkins know as the man behind the September Attacks. Only they know his secret. And only they can stop him from committing another heinous act.

Jericho is a storied show that somehow managed to survive through two seasons on CBS despite low ratings.  It’s one of those series that loyal fans still to this day triumphantly hoist up as something truly special, a TV show worth watching and re-watching again and again.  But considering how the story concluded, this brief stint of television drama left fans longing for a continuation, and thanks to IDW their wish has finally come true.

Kalinda Vazquez writes an excellent script working with a narrative set-up by the original show writers.  The characters and world ebb and flow with lush authenticity as the looming civil war feels closer now than ever before.  My only gripe is that some of the panels felt over burdened with excess text that bogged down the pace of the script, but beyond that the series writer nails the atmosphere and dynamics of the original series.

Andrew Currie does a masteful job with the art doing something that is truthfully unique with live-action to comic adaptions, he successfully nails the likenesses of several of the prominant players.  It’s not perfect, as faces can look a bit distorted at times but the emotions and character quirks are there from beginning to finish.

Jericho: Season 4 #1 is an excellent start to a comic series that’s sure to please long time fans.  Recommended.

4/5