Stargazer #1 Advanced Review

Writer: Anthony Cleveland
Artist: Antonio Fuso
Colorist: Stefano Simeone
Letterer: Justin Birch

What happens when you combine a bad LSD trip, aliens, and shared trauma. Well, you get a whirlwind book like Stargazer. Alongside Dry Foot (another book from Mad Cave Studios that you should have your eye on) Stargazer is another new series from the publisher set to debut in September with Anthony Cleveland and Antonio Fuso at its helm. When a group of adolescent teens come into contact with old LSD, twisted drug-induced visions of alien abductions would later become a haunting reality for this small group twenty years later.

Stargazer opens with just a hint at some of the larger aspects of what’s to come before quickly transitioning to our main character Shae, her brother Kenny and two of their childhood friends. It’s a heartening moment of youth as our characters squabble over an old video game manual and the concept of cheating. Combined with subtle 90’s nostalgia (which is something I greatly appreciate and want to see more of from comics)  there’s a lucid sense of camaraderie between our young protagonists before tragedy ensues. After exposure to a hallucinogenic drug, that would result in a traumatizing incident for our characters the book shifts, taking on a much more dark and serious tone.

From there the debut issue jumps us twenty years later as the book continues to follow Shae, haunted by the events from her childhood. Stargazer moves away from being trapped under what feels like another teenage adventure. Instead, it’s focused more on the mental well being of our characters as Shae struggles to cope with her own failures she’s also burdened with having to care for her unwell brother Kenny, who continuously insists that he made contact with a life beyond ours all those years ago. It’s moments like these that are effective at feeling wholly personal.

The pacing of this story along with its effectiveness as it shifts between past and present is due in part to its colorist Stefano Simeone. Stefano’s use of a monochromatic palette consisting of hues of vibrant pinks and magentas helps us distinguish our two time periods as when the present story begins to take over we start to see our panels begin to have injections of purples and blues. I don’t even know if this move was intentional but it’s definitely impactive, helping to guide the narrative focus of the first issue.

I’ll admit it was artist Antonio Fusio who had me immediately drawn to this book.  Fuso had previously worked on the book Clan Killers published by Aftershock Comics and his unique art style brings an additional level to the comic medium that almost feels experimental in its own way, making it perfect for a story like Stargazer. While on the surface Stargazer lends itself to an inventive science fiction tale, it masks the emotional story just underneath, blending concepts like Image Comics Die and Netflix’s Stranger Things, to craft a unique narrative that will leave you constantly wanting more. Mad Cave Studios is a publisher on the rise and Stargazer is just one of those rare books that will leave its mark on the comic industry years after its debut. Make sure to pick up the first issue of Stargazer when it releases September 2nd.

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.

Bleed Them Dry #1 Advanced Review

Created By: Hiroshi Koizumi
Writer: Eliot Rahal
Artist: Dike Ruan
Colorist: Miquel Muerto

Futurist ninja vampires. That’s it. That’s all you need to know. Stick it on your pull list already. Bleed Them Dry is the newest series from Vault comics, set to debut in July. It’s the year 3333, and Asylum is a thriving mega city among a devastated Earth. The twist, Vampires very much exist and for years have been cohabiting with humans despite their dwindling race. There is law and order between vampires and humans, that is until a string of grisly murders specifically targeting vampires threatens any peace within Asylum.

Bleed Them Dry’s first issue kicks off with a jaw-dropping splash page of Asylum’s megacity skyline. In a fruitful effort between artist Dike Ruan and colorist Miquel Muerto that first page alone breathes so much life into the Japanese engineered city (giving off some serious Akira vibes), setting the stage for the rest to come. From there we’re introduced to our main character, a young detective named Harper with what is later suggested to be a harbored past, along with her vampire partner. It’s in Bleed Them Dry’s opening subtle action that it’s established just how vulnerable Vampires have become while simultaneously sucking you deeper into its story.

In a first issue that could have easily been trapped by the standard crime drama formula, Bleed Them Dry keeps readers engaged with effective world-building. and enjoyable characters that are both fascinating and entertaining. The creative team has done a fantastic job of consistently leaving you wanting more with the turn of each page. And if that’s not enough for you the debut issue’s twist revealed in its final pages will immediately make you want the next issue.

Everything about this book is a welcome change of pace. Whereas most media in which vampires exist are more often domineering compared to their human counterparts, instead Bleed Them Dry depicts them as almost an endangered species projecting a new take on what we’re used to from these gothic creatures. On top of that despite being based in a future city inspired by Japanese technology and culture, Bleed Them Dry also features a WOC as it’s female lead.

It has been a few days since I read the debut issue of Bleed Them Dry and I still can’t stop thinking about it. Even in the year 2020, there seems to be no shortage of vampire based media, (which I’ll admit I’m pretty thankful for) what with Netflix’s Castlevania and even the resurfacing of the Twilight series just to name a few, but once again Vault comics and it’s creators manage to take what should be an oversaturated genre and instead masterfully utilize those foundations we’re so familiar with and rethink everything we previously knew about Vampires. It feels like a cosmic blend of both western and eastern culminating itself into a story that leaves you constantly wanting to know what lies just beneath the surface. I can’t stress enough how ridiculously excited I am for its physical release along with its upcoming issues. I know I praise the series from Vault Comics a lot (and with good reason) but Bleed Them Dry is just one of those books you’re just not gonna want to miss. Bleed Them Dry #1 is currently available for preorder at your local comic shop and hits shelves on June 24th.

No One's Rose #1 Advanced Review

Writer: Emily Horn & Zac Thompson

Artist: Alberto Jimenez-Alburquerque
Colorist: Raul Angulo
Letterer: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou

 The Apocalypse. It’s an idea that has been prominent in entertainment media for generations. From flesh-eating zombies to frozen wastelands it's a genre that’s been no stranger to the comics medium. No One’s Rose, the newest series from Vault Comics, takes what is commonly an oversaturated concept and adds an extra layer of eco science with a threat that we as readers can directly relate too.
 

Centuries have passed since the vegetation of the Earth was stolen. Those few hundred thousand that remain, now reside in an isolated and controlled dome, with the only green that remains. No One’s Rose first few pages of its debut issue introduce us to a life outside the dome. The desaturated landscape of what’s left of the world is a cruel and eerie reminder, familiar even as if a warning of what can and may come out of our own planet should we not change things. Although I’ve been getting better at it, lettering in comics is something I find myself glancing over very quickly, yet in this series, there’s a fine attention to detail from the issue’s letterer Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou. Specifically, in the series’ opening pages there are moments of lettering that beautifully merge with the gutters of its pages creating a seamless transition from panel to panel. Effective if not at times frightening connections from the fantasy world the creative team has so effectively crafted to ours is something No One’s Rose does particularly well.
 

No One’s Rose beautifully transitions from it’s a bleak wasteland to the lively and colorful setting humanity has created for itself which writer Zach Thompson describes as “Solar Punk”. It’s here that we’re introduced to our two very contrasting main characters. There’s Tenn, a bright and hopeful young Eco-Scientist who wants nothing more to revitalize the green and return the world to its former grandeur. Then there’s Seren, Tenn’s brother. Unlike his sister, Seren views the world in a different way and wants nothing more than to dismantle the classist system of the Green Zone. Seren is also unapologetically queer, and is shown in a relationship with another male character. I wouldn’t highlight the fact so prominent if his character didn’t break the mold of the common male masculinity and genderqueer role which is just a nice change of pace when it comes to queer characters in comics.
 

In the debut issue, we begin to see the foundations of Seren and Tenn’s relationship, as well as just the base foundations of the Green Zone. Although we’re merely scratching the surface of the extensive world the creative team has given us, we’re introduced to the idea of a classist social structure in No One’s Rose. Different levels of the dome feel reminiscent of the structured train cars in the similarly post-apocalyptic series, Snow Piercer. It’s an idea from series writers Zac Thompson and Emily Horn that I can’t wait to see more of and is something I hope is extended upon in future issues. The first issue’s cliffhanger in particular and it’s the introduction of these plant hybrid humanoids, in particular, have me eager for the next issue in the series.
 

What’s different about No One’s rose compared to most Dystopian stories is that rather then focus on the doom and gloom, the series creative team instead turns its focus toward the optimistic change it’s characters were forced to make and the change they make towards the future. Alberto Jimenez-Alburquerque’s harsh and yet stylistic linework paired with Raul Angulo vibrant colors feels like a metaphor for the series as a whole. No One’s Rose is a refreshing take on an otherwise oversaturated and stale genre taking it to another level even and flips everything we know about it on its head.
 

No One’s Rose #1 is available both digitally and in your local comic shop on March 25th!

Finger Guns #1 Advanced Review

Written by Justin Richards 
Art by Val Halvorson 
Colors by Rebecca Nalty 
Letters by Taylor Esposito

Finger Guns written by Justin Richards and illustrated by Val Halvorson is the first new series of 2020 published by Vault comics. Now if you followed me at all last year you know just how much I love this publisher. Throughout 2019, Vault was a continuous powerhouse with titles like These Savage Shores, Heist, Money Shot and Sera and the Royal Stars. Vault is fully prepared to start 2020 with a literal bang. Thanks to the kind folks over at Vault Comics I was able to get a sneak peek at the first issue of Finger Guns a month before it hits your local comic shop.

Life as a teenager is hard. With factors like school, work, friendships, and puberty it can feel almost impossible to balance. Life as a teenager with a crappy and stressful home life, well that's even harder. Enter our two protagonists. Finger Guns follows the story of two such kids following their own beaten path just trying to make it through life before converging together with what they have in common It's a coming of age story we've seen before, but with an added twist. Our two main characters can manipulate the emotions of one another with you guessed it, a single finger gun motion.

This book is absolutely gorgeous, Val Halvorson and Rebecca Nalty (the series colorist) are an absolute dream team together. In a book about elevated emotions, the theme is handled perfectly in regards to its art. The colors are gorgeous and vibrant while still tying down the fact that this book is just about everyday kids. There's also a use of texture along with the colorwork that I really appreciate, it really helps to add depth to every panel and page.

While there are a lot of similarities between our characters I also really love the contrast between them. Wes, who we're first introduced harnesses a power that seemingly elevates the emotions of others, especially those of hate and anger, while his counterpart Sadie seemingly calms and settles with the use of her own powers. This contrast can also be seen in their personal lives as well. Wes lives most of his life alone, as his absent father spends most of his time working late, while Sadie's family is quite the opposite as we learn here parents are financially struggling which only adds weight to their family. Both are feelings that almost everyone has experienced at one point or another which helps to make the series more relatable despite its magical touch.

My biggest issue with Finger Guns premiere is its pacing. Now I'll give him credit, Richards gets right down to it with our main character discovering and experimenting with his powers by page four. I like this a lot. However, from there, the rest of the issue seems rushed with scenes feeling incomplete at times. The final pages, in particular, are where we see it the worst especially in the issue's cliffhanger. I'm almost certain of where the next issue will go and how it will begin which makes its ending lacking in any weight or real "threat".  I personally feel like the final pages should have just shown the eluded action with the opening of issue two dealing with its consequences.

Overall I really enjoyed Finger Guns and am excited to see where the story will go. If you're a fan of series like We Can Never Go Home or 4 Kids Walk Into a Bank this is a seemingly no brainer pickup. Either way, make sure to pick up Finger Guns #1 and read it for yourself when the first issue drops on February 26th.  

Sera & The Royal Stars #1 Advanced Review

You guys probably already know but I'm just gonna reiterate how much I love Vault comics! They're honestly one of the best publishers out there right now with some of the best talent in the industry. Despite Vault still being in its infancy, they've already managed to publisher hit titles like, Heathen, Wasted Space, These Savage Shores, and Submerged, all of which you should be reading. Not only that but they publish some of the most diverse stories in comics right now, with a wide range of themes and voices across all their titles.

Sera & The Royal Stars is a new Asian influenced epic fantasy limited mini-series from Jon Tsuei & Audrey Mok. In the midst of a great civil war, Princess Sera will have no choice but to follow a predetermined destiny when the great goddess Mitra replaces her heart with a fragmented crystal shard. With the fate or her house, subjects, and land on the line, Sera will have no choice but to leave all she knows behind in the hope of bringing balance back to Parsa. 

Princess Sera reminds me a lot of Red Sonja, she's fierce willful and badass, making her my favorite kind of protagonist. Despite the odds against her and the lingering weight of past failures, she embarks on a journey carrying a burden that only she is able.

I absolutely loved this first issue. First issues often suffer the casualty of world building and character introductions, while sacrificing excitement and intensity or vice versa, but with Sera & The Royal Stars, this is not the case. Our story starts on the foothills of a great battle. It makes the beginning quick and sharp, but as the story transitions, Jon Tseui is able to find this perfect balance that offers action and engagement while still setting up this fantastical world he's created with Audrey Mok, that leaves you wanting to see more. 

Speaking of Audrey Mok, her work in Sera & The Royal Stars is drop dead gorgeous. I'm familiar with her cover work with Archie titles like Josie & The Pussycats and Blossoms 666, but creating a cultural fantasy combined with some really fantastic character designs is where she shines. Colorist, Raúl Angulo who works alongside Mok, utilizes bold and contrasting colors, along with unique textures to really help push her linework to another level, giving life to this new world.

Sera & The Royal Stars is a wonderful and diverse addition to the fantasy genre. With such a star-studded first issue, the series is definitely on my pull list.  So far it's a great all-ages title, without succumbing to an overly childish feel, making it great for literally everyone. If you're a fan of series like Avatar The Last Airbender/Legend of Korra or Red Sonja make sure to check this one out!

Sera & The Royal Stars is currently available to preorder at your local comic shop, with the first issue releasing on July 17th.