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Graphic Breakdown: 100% Indie Comic Magic

Welcome back to Graphic Breakdown!

It’s Monday, it’s raining, and I love talking about comic books that are outside the mainstream!

Let’s get started!

 

A Walk Through Hell #1
Written by Garth Ennis
llustrated by Goran Sudzuka
Published by Aftershock Comics

Garth Ennis has had quite the career.

Sure, everyone knows and respects Preacher. It’s his lesser known comics that I have always loved.

This is a highly anticipated first issue. So, how was it, you ask?

Well, not bad.

The book is about two FBI agents named Shaw and McGregor. They are looking into the mysterious disappearance of two fellow FBI agents. But their search leads them into a nightmare that they may not be able to get out of. The story makes for a damn good first issue. The art by Sudzuka is tops.

I’m interested to see where it goes. I’ll be reading the rest for sure.

RATING: A –

 

Crossroad Blues GN
Written by Ace Atkins
Illustrated by Marco Finnegan
Published by Image Comics

Well, this was a nice surprise. Writer Ace Atkins adapts his own novel into a graphic novel from those fine folks at Image. This book is a wonderful treat and Atkins just knocks it out of the park. Make sure to pick this up!

A New Orleans college professor goes missing!

It seems he was looking for the lost recordings of bluesman Robert Johnson. Johnson was rumored to have sold his souls to the devil.

And it’s up to Nick Travers to find him. Can Nick do it?

Nothing is what it seems. I had no idea where this book was ever going, only that Atkins was a fantastic writer. The art is wonderful. Please pick this up. It’s a book that is quite excellent.

RATING: A

 

Son of Hitler GN
Written by Anthony Del Col and Geoff Moore
Illustrated by Jeff McComsey
Published by Image Comics

What the holy hell is this?

This book focuses on the son of Hitler!

Talk about a book with an accurate title.

This is a very different book. How is it?

Well, it’s daring.

Del Col and Moore have a concept and they run with it. This is the story of Hitler’s unknown child and how he was the key to ending World War II. It shows how this son goes from being a baker to becoming the lynchpin in the annals of history.

Is it true?

Probably not. But if you go along with the concept, you end up having a decent time. The art is decent as well. It was a little dull at first. Once it picks up, we are left with an engaging graphic novel.

RATING: B+

 

Crude #1
Written by Steve Orlando
Illustrated by Garry Brown
Published by Image Comics

This was a decent enough comic. Steve Orlando is always a good time. He writes with passion and does the same here. This was an engaging first issue and I’ll be sticking around to see how it turns out.

Piotr Petrovich was once one of the most feared killers in the world. Now, his son gets sent to him in a body bag.

So Piotr goes out to track down what happened to him. And when he finds out the truth?

Everybody better watch out.

The story is good. Orlando knows just what he is doing here and makes the book fascinating.

The art by Garry Brown is great. He’s super underrated. Pick this up.

It’s a great debut for a new book.

RATING: B+

 

Death or Glory #1
Written by Rick Remender
Illustrated by Bengal
Published by Image Comics

Yes!

Rick Remender is back with a brand new comic book!

Honestly, he does his best work writing books that are independent. His latest is something of a a must buy. I recommend it fully!

Glory is raised off the grid! She’s on the road fighting for freedom. But her dad is sick.

Now, she has three days to pull off four dangerous cross country heists with a bunch of people out to stop her.

Can she do it? Let’s find out.

The story is awesome. It’s like a Hollywood action film on drugs. The art by Bengal is awesome as well. You need to read this. It’s something else!

RATING: A

 

The Dead Hand #1
Written by Kyle Higgins
Illustrated by Stephen Mooney
Published by Image Comics

I wasn’t sure what to make of this book at first.

It won me over eventually with strong writing and excellent characters. Kyle Higgins proves himself to be a great writer here and his work is tops.

Carter Carlson was a highly decorated operative during the Cold War! Nobody wanted to mess with him.

But when the Soviet Union collapsed, he went away.

Now the “Dead Hand” is back and ready to cause more destruction.

This means that Carter is back to his old ways!

The story is pretty damn good. I’ve never been a Mooney fan. But I have to admit, he knocks it out of the park in this debut issue. Pick this up. It could turn into something truly great!

RATING: B+

 

RoboCop: Citizens Arrest #1
Written by Brian Wood
Illustrated by Jorge Coelho
Published by BOOM! Studios

Oh boy. Another RoboCop comic book.

Why would I read that?

Wait. Brian Wood is writing it? And it’s got decent art?

Put it at the top of my reading list!

Honestly, BOOM! has put out some good RoboCop books and this is another one.

This book is the first to explore social justice in this universe. It takes place decades after RoboCop came into being. Corporations have completely taken over.

Only one being can make a difference!

You guessed it! RoboCop himself!

The writing is strong. Wood always does a great job and this is no different. The art is very good as well. Pick this up. It’s a new look of an old character! And it’s a pretty damn good one.

RATING: B+

 

Dark Ark: Vol. 1 
Written by Cullen Bunn 
Illustrated by Juan Doe
Published by Aftershock Comics

I had read this in its original single issue form and reread it again.

It’s a stunning book. Bunn is a great writer when he wants to be. I was enthralled from the first page until the last.

This is the classic story of Noah’s Ark, but told in a new way.

You see, in this reality, dark forces have commanded the sorcerer Shrae to make his own ark and save the dark creatures of the world. This book shows what happens on such an ark.

The story is brutally fun. It’s gruesome for sure and the art by Doe is tops.

It’s a book that may fly under your radar but shouldn’t. It’s quite excellent.

RATING: A

 

 

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