Eddy Current by Ted McKeever is a combination of Don Quixote, 24 and Batman with overt religious overtones. Eddy Current came out in 1987, around the same time as Watchmenand Dark Knight Returns, and was nominated four Eisner Awards in 1988. But it is not nearly as well known as other major works from this time frame. This is partially because Ted McKeever was a virtual unknown (Eddy Current was only his second published comic) and partially because it was released by a small publisher. But it is a major work in comics and should be read more widely.

Eddy Current is a patient in an insane asylum who loves his favorite comic character, The Amazing Broccoli. After reading what appears to be the final issue of The Amazing Broccoli comic, where the main character takes out the bad guys and himself by peeing on himself while being electrocuted, Eddy receives a package. It is an Amazing Broccoli costume. After putting it on, a opening in the asylum comes up and Eddy knows he go fight crime as long as he’s back before bed check in the morning. So Eddy has 12 hours to save the world and make it back. The 12 issue series is setup so that each issue is 1 hour (the same gimmick as 24, but 14 years earlier).

Eddy goes out and runs into many wild people on the street, before meeting Nun. Nun convinces herself that Eddy is Christ re-incarnated and she must help him. Eddy wants to save the world and his fantasy life intersects with a real-life world changing event. A group of people are attempting to take over the world and Eddy & Nun are the only ones that can stop them.

The art of Eddy Current is not as polished and finished as you would see in a lot of comic books, since McKeever has his own style. But it works well with the story and serves its needs. The story is a wonderful callback to Don Quixote (with Nun playing the Pancho role) of an insane knight-errant out to save the world. The Nun also brings in a lot of religious overtones and the format is that of a superhero. But this book is so much more. The power of the story will overwhelm you and make you wish you had read it sooner. A great book that is fortunately back in print for all to enjoy.