Jane Jet: Book One - Nuclear Shadows

Jane Jet #1

by Amal Desai, Paul Essenson (contributor)

In a dieselpunk 1955, JANE JET hits the skies after killing her abusive husband, ROCKET MAN, and becoming public enemy number one. If she's to survive, she'll need to outfly the looming shadows of WWII and onslaughts from the nearly unstoppable armored heroes of this age. JANE JET serves two fistfuls of truth and fury in Book Nuclear Shadows.

Genres: Comics

70 pages, Paperback

Published August 30, 2024

About the author

Amal Desai is a comic book writer, letterer, and designer based out of the Chicagoland area. He is the writer/letterer/co-creator of Jane Jet from Markosia and has lettered books for Scout Comics, Antarctic Press, eigoMANGA, Lesser Known Comics, and numerous indie publishers/creators.

Reviews

[Rod Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

In 1955 Jane Martin, a housewife, defends herself against her husband's abuse and violent threats with deadly force and takes flight as a fugitive from justice. And by "takes flight," I mean she straps on one of the jet packs her husband and she used during World War II when they were the masked heroes Rocket Man and Jet Jane and she goes zooming off over the Nevada desert.

Other heroes, directed by a shady government agency, are soon on her trail and filling out the book with a seemingly endless string of fights. Amidst all the BANG! POW! CRASH! there's not much room for character development or any sort of nuanced examination of domestic violence.

I might have almost tried a second volume, but the last three pages with a super-stupid and pointless sacrifice and an inevitable return just soured me on the prospect.

I was slightly interested to find in the end matter that this book is based on comic book characters in the public domain that originally appeared in Scoop Comics #1-3 back in 1941. (A page from issue #3 is included in the end matter.) Rocket Man's identity is the same, Cal Martin, but Jane Jet was originally known as Rocketgirl, the alter ego of Doris Dalton, Cal Martin's fiancée. I prefer her new name, but I bet that's because it sort of sounds like Joan Jett, the great rock star.


Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the author through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program.

[Sally Denton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haven’t read a comic book since buying an Archie comic every week 20ish years ago. Jane Jet is an excellent comic book and a great read. It has memorable moments, stunning art, and very much looking forward to the sequel.

[fred jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

An entertaining and well written graphic novel with excellent artwork. I enjoyed this one.. I received a complimentary copy from Voracious reader and am leaving a honest voluntary review.

[Matias Loayza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full disclosure: I was shared an early copy of this novel but it had no impact whatsoever on my review.

This graphic novel was a breathe of fresh air. By that I do not mean that it was a superficial story but rather a different take on a common genre (superhero/comics). I thought the story was very creative and kept me reading until I finished it all in one sitting.

Although I believe this is a new creator, the graphic novel did not feel amateur at all and you can tell they are familiar at developing an appropriate pace in a graphic novel which is not always evident. This was a great starting piece hooking the audience in without wasting too much time but in a way that it feels you still get to understand the backstories of the characters.

Outside of the story, the highlights for me were both the composition and visual style. I thought the creative visual way the story was told (i.e., using old album style photos to represent the past) was a very innovative take which helps the reader follow the time jumps within the story. The mix of action (very well drawn and represented) and dialogue was very well distributed across the story giving the reader segments to pause and learn about the characters in between the fast paced battles.

I am excited about the story and look forward to continue reading more of what's to come in the future of the characters.

[Sneha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buckle up, folks! *Jane Jet* by Amal Desai is here to blast you through the dieselpunk skies of 1955. This comic kicks off with a bang—literally—when Jane Jet takes out her abusive husband, Rocket Man, and instantly becomes public enemy number one. Now, she’s dodging WWII’s lingering shadows and battling nearly unstoppable armored heroes who want her grounded for good.

From page one, you’re hooked. Desai throws you into a gritty, high-flying world where the stakes are sky-high. Jane Jet is the kind of fierce female lead we love—she’s serving up truth and fury while fighting for her life, and trust me, you’ll be cheering her on every step of the way.

The story is pure adrenaline, with twists and turns that keep you flipping those pages faster than Jane’s jet. But what really steals the show? The artwork. Seriously, it’s next-level. The visuals are bold, gritty, and capture that retro-futuristic vibe perfectly. Every panel is packed with detail and dynamism, making it impossible to look away.

If you’re into powerful female leads, killer stories, and jaw-dropping artwork, *Jane Jet* is your next obsession. This is just the first book in the series, and if *Nuclear Shadows* is anything to go by, we’re in for one wild ride. Can’t wait to see where Jane’s jet takes us next!

[Jon Portrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well produced comic book. It starts out with a relationship between and man and a woman with a secret. That secret being that they are both super heroes made to face the challenges of war. It starts out exactly where you expect it to; at the start of the action. Where the relationship has reached a sour point and where Jane Jet decides to go off on her own with her super hero identity leading the way. A good read indeed.

[Yann Mba · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just read the book, and it was top! From start to finish, it kept me engaged. The story was very well-written and fast-paced and i loved your girl Jane Jet. Not to mention the art! She was very creative with her gadgets and very intelligent in combat. Overall, it was a much needed breath of fresh air. Having such a strong female lead is not something we see usually, unfortunately.

Tell me if this story ever gets a sequel because it honestly didn't feel like amateur work and got me hooked. Props!

[Isaiah · Rating 4 out of 5]

To see a full review check it out here.


Woah. I just devoured a hero comic without looking up. This never happens.

[Oleksii Kovbinka · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't read comic books very often, more often manga or webcomics, but I liked it.
It has an interesting art-style that reminds me of stereotypical superhero comics, maybe because it is a superhero story, but not so stereotypical.
The story seems a bit overloaded with events, but that's probably normal for the first volume.
The most interesting thing here is the setting, an alternate history with not-so-good superheroes of the Second World War.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sure, we all love seeing superheros in WWII, giving the Führer one on the chin! But what happens after that, when the dust settles, the heroes come home, and all those Nazi scientists have been given sanctuary in the States in exchange for their work? Desai, Essenson, and Malfa take us to the 1955 that could have been. Starting in medias res in the home of Jane and Cal Martin, during the war they were known as Jane Jet and Rocket Man, but now she's an abused wife and he a violent drunk. Without giving too much away, it is Jane's act of retributive self-defense that starts a chase across the United States dodging her former colleagues, technologically-enhanced superheros all. In this world, instead of rocket science, those Project Paperclip Nazi "refugees" went to the HFP - Heroes for Freedom and Peace - instead of NASA, and the creators here do nothing to hide their crimes.

Jane Jet is inspired by an actual war-era comic called "Rocket Man", but the style and tone resembles nothing more than the classic 90's movie The Rocketeer. The pulpy, punch-em-up design and tone fit well with the story of a woman on the run with a jetpack. In addition, all of the Nazi "super-science" is being conducted by actual scientists the US took in under Project Paperclip (though Werner Von Braun is noticeably absent - maybe they're saving him for the next volume). The comic serves as a quick and fun introduction to a setting, and an opportunity to keep light on that dubious facet of American history. This works as a self-contained story, but the cliffhanger ending leaves plenty of room to for more adventures of Jane Jet under that mushroom cloud.

[J. Kamin · Rating 5 out of 5]

JANE JET is awesome! I’ve finished Book One now and I’m hooked. This story’s such a blast – I was rooting for the titular Jane Jet right from the get-go as she metes out fire-powered justice to her abusive husband, and from there the story rolls on with propulsive pacing, pulling us across some beautifully-drawn landscapes of America in the 1950s while revealing the intriguingly complex backgrounds of the main characters.

I mean it when I say this comic is beautifully drawn – the illustrations guide the eye effortlessly through the action, revelling in every strike and blow as armoured heroes clash on the highways of 1950s America. At the same time, behind the action, a deliciously dark story of government espionage and experimentation unfolds. There are moments I found genuinely startling, villains that are truly monstrous, and heroes whose likeability is matched only by the fascination evoked by their backstories. The action is crisp and clear; the dialogue is sharp, intense and emotional.

I seriously can’t wait to learn more about this dieselpunk world of 1955, and am eagerly awaiting Book Two and the continuation of this story from Amal Desai, Paul Essenson and the rest of the team who have brought this story to life.

[Eric Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everyone remembers Rocket Man. The hero who battled the Nazis in World War Two. His wife, Jane Jett, was always by his side. But the honeymoon is over, and Rocket Man is proving that he is more of a monster than a hero. Tired of her husband's abuse, Jane threatened to leave him after her latest beating. But to escape his tyranny, Jane had to eliminate HFP's (Heroes for Freedom and Peace) Golden Idol. On the run from HFP, Jane relies on her best friend Tomi to help her hide and rebuild her suit. I'll take the toughest redesigns to battle what HFP throws at her.

Jane Jet Book One: Nuclear Shadow is a graphic novel by the team of Amal Desai and Paul Essenson. First off, this book comes with a content warning for domestic violence. With that said, Desai's story is one of triumph and escape from spousal abuse. Talking about such a sensitive subject is a bold statement, but Desai pulls it off. The artwork for this action-packed diesel-punk saga enhances the story. Essenson's bold illustrations are fun and colorful. Fans of character-driven superhero comics will enjoy the dynamic cast.

I received a copy of this book to review through Voracious Readers Only.

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was actually pretty good. It's based on some public domain characters, Rocket Man and Rocket Girl. After WWII, Jane Jet as she's known now has finally had enough of her abusive husband. She goes on the run after their confrontation and is pursued by other science heroes of the fifties. Along the way she gets the help of a friend. It could use some more world building but considering it's a 50 page comic that will probably come with future installments. The art was surprisingly good as well given I wasn't familiar with any of the creators.

[Jon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jane Jet is a fun riff on the comic genre. It looks at the not so fun aftermath of the superhero fight in WWII. This was an interesting concept for the story as it follows Jane who is wronged by her husband, her actions as a result and then the reaction of her superhero friends as a result on these actions. The artwork was pretty cool and the style and feel of the art reminded me of invincible. I read it in one sitting as it was good tale and a quickly digestible layout. It’s a fun read, give it a go!
Jon aka @goodcomixmemories

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came across this beauty of a comic book! Great writing creative storyline and gorgeous art! I love the main protagonist and how they mixed real world Issues into an alternate landscape. If you want something refreshing to read that is not the same humdrum comic! This is the one to watch out for!!!

[Anik - MamaBearsBookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so lucky to be offered a copy of this graphic novel in advance.
I really enjoyed it, it was awesome. It was a fun fast read jammed pack with action.
The graphics were so awesome and the story line was pretty cool. I really hope there will be a second volume to this. Loved it! =)

[Adam Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I honestly enjoyed this read, nice little spin on the hero story.