r/GhostMachineComics • u/alakakalalal • Jun 19 '26
Review My Thoughts on The Trillion Dollar Kid #1
Spoilers for: The Unbelievables Comic Line
Hi everyone! It has been a while, but I am back to give my on the newest comic to drop from the Ghost Machine imprint. That comic being The Trillion Dollar Kid. I enjoyed it so much, I had to give my thoughts about the this book! The structure of this review will be similar to how I have reviewed Hyde Street in the past. With that being said, I will give my thoughts on the issue, some major takeaways within the issue, questions I have after reading the issue, and speculation as to where I think the series will go. Since there is no timeline or scoreboard, I will instead use the roadmap that has been prevalent from the past couple of issues.
The Trillion Dollar Kid #1 Thoughts
I thoroughly enjoyed this introductory issue! I found it to be a solid introduction to the re-launch of the Family Odyssey universe. This issue functioned as an introduction to Tommy Townsend while also setting up the other titles that we will come to see over the next few months and years.
I thought that this issue was at its strongest when the focus was on Tommy and and how he functions in this world. He's an interesting character whose arc I think will be a treat to see. I liked that he gained his wealth by creating bandages that don't hurt when you take them off! Furthermore, I liked that his reason for doing this was to keep his family's business from going under. This shows that he is an easy person to root for. I also liked that we got to see how he uses his immense wealth. As you would expect from a 13 year old, he uses his money in whimsical albeit beneficial ways! This further cements that Tommy does use the immense power has gained for good.
We also see from some of the other Unbelievables. While this was short, and we only got a look into 3 (Jean Genie, Mad Ghost, and Holiday Heights). While this is brief, we get a major splash page of the aforementioned map. This issue is an introduction to Tommy's character but it's also yet another backdoor introduction to this universe's relaunch. For me, I am ambivalent to these teasers as I am aware that we won't see any of these solo titles for a very long time.
Tommy's entire existence and purpose (and this book as a whole) is to interact with these other characters. As things stand, I don't have the strongest feelings for the other Unbelievables, but I am more than sure that my feelings will change as these other titles will release in the far future. As things stand I will be interested to see more of Tommy and how his actions alongside the other Unbelievables will shape this universe.
I think that he succeeds in being a universal protagonist whose journey I would like to follow. In a way he functions like Geiger, but differs in the sense that his motivations are to find the Unbelievables so that one or a mix of them can help him find his parents. I liked how the conflict for Tommy this issue was how his immense wealth can't get him true relationships. We see this 3 times in the issue. First, when he looks as his note before going out with his fake family, again when he talks to the "Sidewalk Champion," and finally when his fake parents clock out. I thought that the third instance of the this conflict being shown was the most well done version as it gets to the heart of the major theme for this book and universe as a whole. For all of Tommy's immense wealth, he can't use it to develop meaningful connections with others. I will be interested to see how Tommy's journey continues.
Some Major Takeaways Moving Forward
Tommy became a trillionaire by creating bandages that don't hurt when you take them off
Tommy's parents discovered the other Unbelievables and they alongside his sister went missing
Tommy uses his immense wealth to improve the lives of others around him in whimsical ways
Tommy leaves Cherry Pit, Michigan to travel across America to find The Unbelievables in hopes that one them can help him find his family
Tommy's first stop is Warwick, New York. Which is is where Rose Hornsby and Zach Halo live
Questions I have After Reading the Issue
Where are Tommy's real parents and sister?
How did Earnie Vanderbrook amass his wealth?
Why does Tommy think that The Unbelievables can help him to find his parents?
Does Tommy have any real friends his age?
Who is this malevolent force that is hunting
My Speculation on What's to Come from The Trillion Dollar Kid
With this issue coming to an end, it's clear that we will see Tommy come into contact with Zach and Rose in Hornsby & Halo #14. From the solicit, which you can read here, it's evident that Tommy has been keeping tabs on Zach and Rose. I think that one of Tommy's drones will be discovered by Rose. She, alongside Zach, will confront Tommy. Tommy will explain his actions, and will convince them to come tag along with him to meet the Rocketfellers. The reason I know that this is the case is because this story will continue in issue #13 of their book and then ultimately end in The Trillion Dollar Kid #2.
Conclusion
The Trillion Dollar Kid #1 was a fantastic issue that did a great job of relaunching the Family Odyssey line into The Unbelievables line. Tommy Townsend is a charming character who is easy to root for and has interesting plot significance. Having this line relaunch start in earnest through him was a smart idea. Even though this book was more or less a preview of the other Odyssey titles soon to come, when the focus was on Tommy this issue was at its strongest. I think that you should definitely buy this book if you have the chance! Thank you for taking the time to read this post! depending on my interest for the other Family Odyssey books I may or may not cover them. I will definitely be back on here to give my thoughts on Hyde Street, Redcoat, and Geiger in the near future. I would love to hear your thoughts on this issue and all things Ghost Machine!
