While the television series is no longer running, MacGyver is still a household name. With some help from the show’s creator, Lee David Zlotoff (along with co-writing duties from Tony Lee and artwork by Will Sliney and  Andie Tong), the man who create a useful tool out of anything near him is back, and nearly immediately gets himself into trouble in typical Mac fashion.

MacGyver has been out of the loop for a little while, but the thrills and danger never stop when he’s around. After an old friend (more accurately, a mentor who always found Mac a bit annoying) calls needing some help, everything goes awry, almost immediately after MacGyver hits the scene. However, in typical fashion, skills and craftiness work its way into the plot of the story, proving just how intelligent and clever the man really is.

Tony Lee hit the jackpot as far as writing partners go in this case, teaming with the creator of the man himself to write an accurate depiction of the character. He’s clever, sarcastic, and incredibly intelligent, making it a spot-on characterization of MacGyver. Everything fans should remember about the character appears, and those who are seeing him for the first time will finally understand what all the fuss is about. The writing was able to take a (fictional) real-life personality and adapt him into the comic medium with ease, and still make it entertaining.

The artwork by Will Sliney was also well done, giving the issue an television feel, and the ability to operate with a much larger imaginary budget. Now, Mac can go anywhere and do anything, and the only limit is the imagination of the creative team, instead of a show’s budget.

While the series thus far has been a nostalgic re-introduction to a beloved character, there are a few flaws, most of which will likely be resolved as the series progresses.  The plot keeps the same line of thinking it had in the show, which is nice, but brings nothing new to the character or the general espionage thrillers that have been a staple of the series. While diverting from that too much would be an even bigger mistake, some in-depth character focus and perhaps some emphasis on new, secondary characters would do a world of good.

Summary: The series so far is going strong, with an exciting pace and a style that fans are sure to remember.  Gadgets, espionage and a series of events that will put Mac on the wrong end of a lot of guns is on full display, with Mac bringing all the wit and skill he always has. With four more issues on the way, it seems that MacGyver is back and better than ever, bringing his signature style back to the fans who know and love him.

• THE GOOD: MacGyver is still awesome, cool gadgets
• THE BAD: Plot is pretty typical
• THE UGLY: N/A

Score: 8.0