I just finished volume 8 of Master Keaton last night. At first glance, Keaton seems too good to be true. His occupation is insurance investigator, which he sort of fell into when he couldn’t find a full-time teaching gig in archaelogy. He also fell into a stint in the British SAS. Keaton’s father is Japanese and his mother is British. He has a multi-national upbringing, and his experiences at his three jobs combine to make him, well, a cool Renaissance guy who’s handy to have around in a pinch. He possesses a wealth of knowledge and is a master survivalist.
To offset almost all this, which seems too good to be true in one individual, Keaton is hapless. Yes, he’s just this guy who drifts through life. He’s divorced and his teenage daughter is always telling him to get it together. Few stories in the Master Keaton comic are about Keaton. He wanders about finding ways to help others and solve mysteries. He’s pretty damned cool.
What makes me believe he could be real? Two things. There are people who have lived varying and interesting lives. I love meeting them, and I aspire to be them. And…his personality is so even and friendly. He is a combination of expertise and attraction that makes reading about him irresistible.
