Dry Foot #1 Advanced Review

Writer: Jarred Lujan
Artist: Orlando Caicedo
Colorist: Warnia Sahadewa
Letterer: Justin Birch

I'm switching things up a bit with a new and exciting title from Mad Cave Studios. Dry Foot, set to debut in September from the indie publisher, follows the tale of four close-knit teenagers and their journey to better the crime-filled streets of 1980’s Miami. However, in their path for a better and more fulfilling life lies the deadly Los Marielitos gang with a ruthless and terrifying leader at its head. Together this rambunctious group of friends devise a plan to pull off a heist that would change their lives and those around them forever.

Where Dry Foot really shines is in its characters. Right off the bat with this debut issue’s opening pages, we’re hit with a witty introductory monologue from the point of view of one of our main characters, Diego. Even in its first few lines of dialogue, the first issue is packed with so much heart and personality, which makes the page flip and the introduction of our rowdy teenage gang that much more enjoyable. Marina, Angel, Diego & Fabian are all charismatic and likable characters. The banter between them feels so genuine which is partially due to the fact that these relationships are heavily inspired by writer Jarred Lujan’s teenage years.

The creative team masterfully creates these subtle yet powerful glimpses into the lives and contrasting backgrounds of each of our teenage protagonists. Marina, the headstrong female friend of our group lives alone with her grandmother who is as tough on her as much as she loves her. Fabian, a smooth-talking ladies man, hides the struggle of living with drug and alcohol addicted parents. Soft-spoken and timid Angel has parents who seemingly smother him and Diego, our main character has parents so involved with work that it gives him all the time in the world to devise a master heist. Even with only the first issue I love each of these characters and would protect each of them with my life!

Dry Foot is as much a celebration of Latin American heritage as it is a celebration of '80s culture, with the series artist Orlando Caicedo and colorist Warnia Sahadewa, working together to bring life to a Latin fueled Miami in 1984. Teenage romps, especially those set in the ’80s is something we’ve seen an influx in with recent media. Much like vampires and the apocalypse (not to be confused with vampires in the apocalypse, as rad as that sounds) it feels like the teen adventure seems to be the next overused trope in entertainment. Yet with the injection of Latin culture it not only makes the book feel wholly unique from its predecessors but also genuinely makes the book feel overall diverse and inclusive, something that has been severely lacking when it comes to Latinx representation in comics. As previous winners of the Mad Cave Talent Search, Dry Foot’s debut issue proves how much potential artist Orlando Caicedo, and writer Jarred Lujan have in this industry. I for one can’t wait to see their creative talents grow and thrive in this industry and anticipate future releases from the two.

This new title from Mad Cave studios honestly feels like a book heavily inspired by 4 Kids Walk Into A Bank, Paper Girls, and even Plutona while bringing its own spin to the table. Dry Foot is an engaging book from start to finish, a tale of teenage spirit and growth that packs a lot of heart, and I’m sure a lot of emotion with its future issues. It’s a book that deserves to be on your pull and is certainly a title you won’t want to miss. Make sure to preorder Dry Foot from Mad Cave Studios and mark your calendar for its release on September 9th.