Sweet Tooth #1 – Review

Reviewer: Eden Zacarias

Publisher: Vertigo (DC Comics)
Writer: Jeff Lemire
Artist: Jeff Lemire
Genre: Comic Book
MSRP: $2.00
Release Date: Available Now

As an admirer of indie comics and artists, Jeff Lemire’s appearance on the scene has been like something of a breath of fresh air. As clichéd as that statement might be it is a statement of fact seeing as “Essex County” and “The Nobody” have made Mister Lemire’s work stand out. Now Vertigo brings us yet another unforgettable gem from Jeff Lemire with Sweet Tooth … a series that had us at Page 1 of the first issue.

Sweet Tooth introduces us to a Nebraska boy named Gus who lives with his father and never takes the Lord’s name in vain. He’s a boy who plays with a homemade slingshot and, unsurprisingly enough, has something of a sweet tooth. Gus is also – and this is the understatement of the year – very unique. You see, Gus might look like your average kid but he has antlers growing out of the top of his head. He’s a hybrid caused by an event that Gus’s father describes as “the accident.”

We also find out that Gus lives in a cabin in a Nebraska wildlife sanctuary away from the city folk and whatever event had caused children to be born with defects that turn them into human-animal hybrids. Sheltered from the outside world, Gus’ father makes it loud and clear that he shouldn’t go past the fenced off area. It also becomes clear to Gus that his father is ill and he doesn’t have much time left.

It isn’t until one day, as Gus gathers wood, that he sees something shiny on the road. This object is small yet it also seems to be wrapped in a bright red paper so it becomes too tempting to ignore. It turns out that the object was a candy bar and as he comes home eating the savory chocolate his father makes it loud and clear that such a thing can’t be a mere treat that fell from heaven. Rather, this is some trick to get him out of the sanctuary. You see, special children like Gus have been hunted down by men with guns.

When Gus’ father dies, the boy is finally alone and confused as to what to do with himself now that the only man that cared for him and told him how to take care of himself is gone. Living on his own, he encounters a deer one day when said dear is shot down. As Gus runs for his life he realizes that he’s being chased down until he sees no other course of action but to defend himself with his slingshot. As it turns out, hunters are on to him and ready to take Gus when a burly man with a rifle steps into the scene.

I won’t tell you what happens next because you really do have to read this comic. Jeff Lemire does a marvelous job of setting up the story as he slowly strips away the layers of what is sure to be something surprising in the end. His art is made up of uneven lines that might seem sloppy to most but yet you can’t look away or help admiring the detail in his artwork.

In other words, Sweet Tooth #1 is yet another brilliant work from Jeff Lemire and a series that we cannot wait to see what happens next. Simply put: if you’re looking for a deeply engrossing and original story with a lot to offer then Sweet Tooth is a comic you will certainly not want to miss out on so do pick this one up right away.

COMIC REVOLUTION RATING BREAKDOWN

STORY: A+
In the aftermath of an unseen event that changed the world, a boy with antlers named Gus discovers the incredible sweetness of a candy bar laying on the side of the road in a place he cannot cross. Suddenly, a candy bar becomes the changing point in the life of a special boy in a world where hunters are looking for children like him.

ART: A
Lemire’s art is delightfully original and it works well for this series and his characters are just brilliant.

OVERALL: A+
If anything, Sweet Tooth #1 is proof the Jeff Lemire is the best thing to happen to comics in a very long time and believe me when I say that this story will hook you in and keep you hooked to the last page. This is also an outrageously imaginative and compelling read you know is just going to keep getting better and better.

North 40 #2 – Comic Book Review

Reviewer: Sienna Rockette

Publisher: WildStorm (DC Comics)
Writer: Aaron Williams
Artist: Fiona Staples
Genre: Comic Book
MSRP: $2.99
Release Date: Available Now

“An‘ The Word Was Law.”

I knew it the minute I finished the first issue of North 40 that it would become a favorite around the office and when an office filled with comic junkies love something you can expect them to hound the reviewer for a chance to read it as well. That’s how I know a comic managed to surpass all expectations and offer a story that all comic fans can really love no matter what genre you love the most. In the second issue of North 40, the brilliant art and storytelling continues so yes my fellow reviewers want it badly.

In North 40 #2, the aftermath of the event that shook Conover County and changed the people living within a few miles of the local library (where two bored teens awakened some ancient power) in the town of Lufton is finally becoming a nightmarish reality to those who have come to realize that there‘s something different about their surroundings. Some of them have even gained strange new abilities while the other half were freakishly transformed physically.

One of these freaks is Dave Atterhull who has become a hulking monstrosity that is currently smashing The Howdy Holler a new back entrance with a vehicle he picked up as if it were made of aluminum foil and cardboard. It isn’t until the waitress named Luanne who has the power to “see” sends Sheriff Morgan a message via a crow that the lawman steps up to the plate to put an end to Dave’s rampage to rescue a barmaid inside the bar.

Dave, as the Sheriff can see, has become an unstoppable force to be reckoned with but the man doesn’t even blink when he confronts Atterhull. It seems all of Dave’s kin have crowned him king of the Atterhull family and it becomes very clear that they intend on taking over Conover County … a feat that won’t be so simple seeing as they come to realize that Dave isn’t the only one that’s been enhanced by whatever caused the unusual occurrence.

Back in the farm, Wyatt comes home to find his father in the most unusual state and he’s not sure whether the man is dead or living. Meanwhile, the town bully named Dwyer Martin comes knocking on Wyatt’s door by telepathically sending a pitchfork flying down on the farm boy’s foot. Luckily, for Wyatt, his super strength allows him to be nearly unbreakable as we saw in the first issue when he took a shotgun blast at point-blank range. As the two super powered youths fight it out, Amanda Walker receives instructions by the old witch to head out to Conover County’s own Ground Zero and team up with Sheriff Morgan.

Meanwhile, Luanne sends word that it might not be a good idea for the survivors to stay outdoors after dark. There’s something coming, she says, and there’s a barrier surrounding the county line that just won’t let anything pass. It’s clear that they’re all stuck where they are until they’re able to sort out the entire mess. It also doesn’t take long before another major threat pops up.

Things are just getting even more interesting as we can see in North 40 #2 and, as the after effects of the event that lead to the county’s transformation just barely begins to come to light, Sheriff Morgan attempts to bring some law and order to his town. Of course, that won’t be easy seeing as there’s more than enough freaks and monsters that the survivors must deal with in the upcoming issues. Consider us hooked on this one.

COMIC REVOLUTION RATING BREAKDOWN

STORY: A
In the wake of the supernatural event that changed Conover Count, many of the folks in the little town is coming to terms with their new abilities and other unusual changes. As Amanda Walker comes to learn her role in all this craziness, the good Sheriff is trying to keep some order … by way of a little bird sent by somebody in town. Meanwhile, farm boy Wyatt finds himself going up against the town bully who has powers of his own.

ART: A+
The art by Fiona Staples is still simply yet another reason you will love this series and it continues to be just as eye-catching in this second issue.

OVERALL: A
As the mystery behind the “blackout” is still just that, the handful of people that have developed abilities are slowly coming together in the second issue of North 40. Things are certainly going to get a lot more interesting as the Sheriff tries to bring some order in all the chaos. This series just keeps getting better and better.

Noir: A Collection of Crime Comics – Review

Reviewer: Emma Coverdale

Publisher: Dark Horse Books
Writer: David Lapham, Jeff Lemire, Alex De Campi, Chris Offutt, M.K. Perker, Paul Grist, Rick Geary, Ken Lizzi, Gary Phillips, Ed Brubaker, Brian Azzarello and Matthew and Shawn Fillbach
Artist: Hugo Petrus, Joelle Jones, Eduardo Barreto, Sean Phillips, Kano, Stefano Gaudiano, Fabio Moon and Gabriel Ba
Genre: Graphic Novel
MSRP: $12.95
Release Date: Available Now

As a fan of crime fiction and, even better, crime comics, Noir: A Collection of Crime Comics was one of those graphic novels I could not ignore. Rarely has Dark Horse ever disappointed me with the titles under the crime genre and now I must say I have a new favorite with Noir. The reason is simple: it contains a collection of short stories told by some of the industry’s most talented writers and artists and boy are these stories wonderfully grim.

With 13 stories by brilliant minds such as Brian Azzarello, Jeff Lemire, Paul Grist and Gary Phillips (just to name a few), the stories are on the short side but are no less exceptional. In fact, the bite-sized nature of the stories actually work well. Starting with David Lapham’s “Open The Goddamned Box” where a pair of angry boys take a female classmate captive and stuff her in a box and continues with a story by Jeff Lemire about a farmer on the verge of losing his land to a bank when fortune smiles upon him when a wounded bank robber ends up in his barn.

Fans of Mister X and the Kane series will not be disappointed seeing as there are two short stories featuring the characters from the series. In “Mister X: Yacht on the Styx,” Mister X helps journalist Rosetta Stone try to uncover the mystery behind a massacre that might have involved a dead shipping magnate. In “Kane: The Card Player,” Detective Kane and Detective Felix look into the case of a burglar that leaves a calling card. It’s certainly great to find short stories with Mister X and Kane and these two stories are actually good.

There are also some truly gruesome crime stories such as “The Albanian” where an Albanian nightshift custodian arrives on time to witness the finale of a disgruntled employee’s macabre handiwork. In “The Last Hit,” a seasoned hitman goes up against a younger hitman. Then, in “21st Century Noir” a young man meets a sexy woman online and has a chance encounter that goes sour. It’s the more gruesome stories that actually make Noir even more fascinating.

“The New Me” finds a gym’s personal trainer hitting on just about every woman in the place only to find himself interested in a woman that suddenly becomes more attractive now that she’s lost all the weight. What makes this an interesting tale is the reason why she got fit and what she has in store for the playboy personal trainer. In “Blood On My Hands,” a man thinks his wife is cheating on him so he orders a hit with an unexpected aftermath. There’s even a text short story called “Trustworthy” where a man hooks up with a woman who comes with her own baggage of the deadly kind.

Some stories are actually wonderfully written but just feel out of place in this graphic novel for some reason. “Ladies’ Choice,” for instance, finds a bored woman whose boyfriend think’s he’s a tough gangster when a cowboy shows up and sweeps her off her feet. “Fracture” deals with a woman who wonders what would happen if she pushed a homeless person in front of a subway train. Finally, there’s the short story “The Bad Night” that has a familiar content for those who know who recognize the surprise ending.

As I mentioned in the beginning, this graphic novel contains short stories written by some of the most talented writers and artists working in comics and it shows. All the stories, even the ones that I felt didn’t seem like they belonged in this collection, are not only intriguing but fun stories to read. Many of them are actually unforgettable gems.

Noir: A Collection of Crime Comics is just how I love my crime comics … gritty, dark and downright brilliant. With a collection of talented writers and artists, the stories might be on the short side but they will not fail to impress and to put on smile on your face from beginning to end. Yes, comic fans, it is just that good so trust me when I say that you will most definitely want to pick up a copy immediately.

COMIC REVOLUTION RATING BREAKDOWN

STORY: A+
There are several standout stories among the collection as well as some Dark Horse favorites like Mister X and Kane show up in interesting short stories. There are some deliciously twisted stories like “21st Century Noir” and “Open the Goddamned Box” as well as story or two with no real crime but the best ones are violent and unforgettable.

ART: A
There’s certainly no shortage of amazing artists on display whether you love Jeff Lemire’s interesting visual style, Eduardo Barreto’s classic artistic vision or Hugo Petrus’ wonderfully detailed artwork.

OVERALL: A+
Noir isn’t just a collection of brilliant crime stories but it is also one of the most darkly enjoyable rarities that make this a real gem for fans of the genre. All of it, of course, is due to the enormously talented writers and illustrators that bring these short stories to life on the pages of this Must Have graphic novel.

Filthy Rich – Graphic Novel Review

Reviewer: Sienna Rockette

Publisher: Vertigo Crime (DC Comics)
Writer: Brian Azzarello
Artist: Victor Santos
Genre: Graphic Novel (Hardcover)
MSRP: $19.99
Release Date: Available Now

It isn’t easy being Richard “Junk” Junkin.

He was once a very promising pro football player who everyone had an eye on until he got into a bad accident that not only nearly crippled him but ruined his chances to be an All-American football legend. He now spends his days making a living as car salesman for the richest man in the city and sleeping with the lusty wives of men with money in their pockets. He isn’t the brightest bulb and he isn’t the best salesman in the lot but he’s got character and that’s the only reason his boss, Mister Soeffer, is keeping him on the payroll.

Oh, but with a poor car sales record and half of Soeffer’s best salesmen often getting on Junk’s case, the boss decides to give him another duty and that is to take care of his only daughter. You see, Soeffer has a daughter named Victoria who is – more or less – the Paris Hilton of her time. Beautiful, curvy and a sociable socialite who is known throughout the late night party circuit, Victoria is the type of doll you do not want to play with or even get to know personally. She’s the kind of girl that looks out for herself and thinks of nothing more than to make daddy’s life a living nightmare since she ends up in all the tabloid rags in the city.

While Junk has a girl he sees on a somewhat regular basis who is crazy about him, he accepts the job only to find himself smitten by Victoria who sees him as nothing more than just hired muscle. Suddenly, Junk finds himself caught up in the seemingly glamorous nightclubs and hot spots Victoria frequents. He’s rubbing elbows with the rich and the famous but, most importantly, he’s near Victoria. Junk realizes that he likes this seedy side of the city and likes Victoria even more to the point that he keeps troublesome rich boys away from her.

Of course, watching over a girl like Victoria becomes difficult when the girl in question flirts around with Junk. While Victoria sees it as playfully harmless flirtation, Junk interprets it as genuine affection. As I said, he’s not the brightest bulb. When something she says gets under Junk’s skin, though, he loses track of Victoria only to find her in a very uncompromising position with a rich kid that seems to relish pushing Junk’s buttons. The result is that the rich kid ends up dead thanks to Junk’s short temper and mighty fists.

Instead of scaring Victoria away, though, she sticks to his story that a drunken friend of dead rich kid was so drunk that he killed his friend. To sell the story, Victoria creates scandal in front of the paparazzi that has people believing she spent the entire evening making out with her bodyguard. This, of course, enrages daddy and when Victoria shows up with a shiner, Junk immediately believes daddy smacked his little girl around. Then, Victoria spends the night with Junk.

Thinking the only way to keep his lady love safe, Junk does what he know thinks he does best … cross the line without even turning back. What happens next is true to the old school pulp stories as Junk attempts to save the spoiled rich girl by committing more crimes and setting up alibis. Filthy Rich is filled with bloody violence, raw sex and snappy dialogue. The art brings to mind those classic crime comics that Frank Miller brought to Sin City. Everything about Filthy Rich falls together nicely.

Filthy Rich is everything you can ask for in a pulp crime comic and thanks to its richly told story and great art this one joins all the classic crime stories of the good old days of hardboiled pulp comics. Brian Azzerello and Victor Santos recreates the classic film noir feel of old movies like “Double Indemnity” and the detective yarns of Raymond Chandler perfectly. This is a Must Have for anyone who loves crime fiction.

COMIC REVOLUTION RATING BREAKDOWN

STORY: A+
As a car salesman, Junk isn’t the best at what he does and with his old football glory days behind him there isn’t much a big guy can do except maybe some muscle work for his boss who happens to be wealthy. When his boss offers him a job protecting his beautiful out-of-control daughter, things will get very ugly for the poor clueless muscle.

ART: B+
You just have to love art that brings to mind those old crime comics your father use to read and Victor Santos just does a exceptional job with the dark tones.

OVERALL: A+
Deliciously lurid and extremely hard to put down, Filthy Rich is a brilliant slice of pulp fiction that pays homage to the classic crime stories of yesteryear. With a boldly written story that tips its hat to film noir classics and art that screams ’50s styled crime comics, this is one graphic novel that Dashell Hammit and Raymond Chandler would have loved.

Unknown Soldier: Haunted House – Review

Reviewer: Eden Zacarias

Publisher: Vertigo (DC Comics)
Writer: Joshua Dysart
Artist: Alberto Ponticelli
Genre: Graphic Novel
MSRP: $9.99
Release Date: Available Now

You know you found an amazing graphic novel when the story grabs a hold of you so tightly that you can’t put it down or even want to once you open it. Like many comic collectors and hardcore comic junkies, like myself, my growing library of favorites that fall into the category I just described continues to grow and even more so when works like Joshua Dysart and artist Alberto Ponticelli’s Unknown Soldier: Haunted House comes along. Consider this one of this year’s most poignant, frightening and outstanding comic series that deserves to be in your library.

Unknown Soldier tells the story of Doctor Lwanga Moses who fled Uganda with his family when he was 7-years old when the Tanzanian soldiers and a formidable group of Ugandan exiles forced the Idi Amin Dada Oumee out of their soil. He has since became a pillar of his community as an African-American and later graduating from Harvard Medical School. Yet he has always considered himself a son of Uganda and, along with his lovely Ugandan wife Lwanga Sera, they join the Humanitarian Affairs relief effort in Kampala to treat patients in the nearby Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp.

Conditions have not improved one bit even with the change in government and the atrocities have become way too common in the region as the two doctors can see as they treat children who have been mutilated and disfigured by rebels. Then, one day, a group of children cry out for help when they were attacked by a small group of armed rebels who have taken the sister of one of the boys. Moses carelessly runs into the clearing where he is confronted by children with guns. As he watches as one of the soldiers that helps guard the camp get shot to ribbons and the young girl an obvious victim of rape, Moses reacts violently and ends up killing one of the young rebels with his own gun.

Out of despair and not fully understanding the voice in his head that made him react, the good Doctor begins to disfigure his own face to make the voice stop. When he wakes up, he finds his face bandaged and under the care of a kind Australian nun who overseen an orphanage for girls. Meanwhile, back in the IDP camp, Sera is worried about her husband as she contacts official channels asking for help. In a town not too far away, two American men confront another man named Jack Lee Howl who is definitely a “company man” who is asked to locate Dr. Lwanga.

When a raid on the orphanage by a Christian rebel group kick starts that angry voice inside him, Moses takes action only to be captured by the rebels. Dressed in a priest’s clothes – seeing as this is the only men’s clothing the Sister had – he is mistaken for a man of the cloth and is unharmed. It is in the rebel camp that he meets the leader, a cruel man who with a twisted sense of faith in God, who tells them that his men need wives and will not let the orphan girls go. It is then that the voice returns and guide’s Moses’ hand to kill again. As he works to get those girls out of the rebel camp, he loses count of how many rebels he kills.

What is the voice he keeps hearing and why does Moses have horrible nightmares of him breaking his own beloved wife’s neck? For that matter, why does he experience strange flashbacks of his past in America and of strange experiments that might have been done on him? More importantly, how does a medical doctor become an experienced killing machine? These are the questions that plague Moses as he gets the girls back to the orphanage and he is finally reunited with his sweet wife.

When the rebel leader makes his way into the IDP camp in search of Moses, the killing machine is awakened again as Moses accepts his dark side to take out the remaining rebels and face off against the leader. In the end, what was once Lwanga Moses is gone and in his place is an unknown warrior that will not stop killing until there is peace in his homeland.

With powerful imagery, great characters and an unforgettable story, Unknown Soldier: Haunted House is not only an amazing read but also a relevant work of art. This is also a great beginning to what is sure to become one of those graphic novels that will be right up there with some of the most noteworthy classics. Yes, this is high praise but if you pick this one up you will see it is praise well deserved. This is certainly on the top of our most Highly Recommended list.

COMIC REVOLUTION RATING BREAKDOWN

STORY: A+
It’s 2002 and the northern region of Uganda is suffering the effects of the guerilla war between rebel extremists and the government yet this doesn’t stop Doctor Lwanga Moses and his beautiful physician wife from returning to their homeland to do some good. Then one horrific moment turns the kind Doctor into a disfigured killer who stands up for a group of orphans taken by a vicious Christian rebel group.

ART: A+
A truly visceral experience from start to finish, Alberto Ponticelli’s art certainly compliments the story well enough that sometimes words aren’t needed to convey the emotion and drama. This is great work from a brilliant artist.

OVERALL: A+
Unknown Solider: Haunted House is what masterpieces are made of and it just doesn’t get any better than what Dysart and Ponticelli offers. It is, simply put, one of the most powerful, moving and utterly compelling work worthy of being on the very top of your Favorite Comic Of All Time list. Whatever you do, do not miss this amazing series.

North 40 #1 – Review

Reviewer: Sienna Rockette

Publisher: WildStorm (DC Comics)
Writer: Aaron Williams
Artist: Fiona Staples
Genre: Comic Book
MSRP: $2.99
Release Date: Available Now

“Now entering Conover County.”

Rare is the comic that has me so caught up in its universe that I have go back and read it all over again to savor its creativity once again. Mind you, this is rare for me and I haven’t done that in quite some time but it was North 40 #1 that has made me do just that. If you’re looking for a comic that has the ability to creep you out and suck you into its world then look no further because North 40 delivers.

Conover County doesn’t have much in terms of a history nor does it have much going on so you can imagine why teens Robert and the Goth girl he calls “Lady Dy” pick up the book in their local library that was sent to them from Vidette University’s restricted section of its library. When they open the book they begin to almost automatically read its passages when the library literally explodes.

At the time before the book opened, Sheriff Morgan is once again going through his Friday night ritual of hauling drunken and abrasive David to the slammer. Not far away, Brad who just so happens to be the Major’s son, is trying to convince an unlucky gal to join him in the Super Stayalot Motel. In the diner down the road, a young waitress named Luanne has no interest in joining her fellow schoolmates in tonight’s dance. Driving down that road in not too far from that is Wyatt who is out running unnecessary errands for his father. Then there’s Amanda Walker who is hiding from a bunch of drunk boys that got too rough with her when she hears a comforting voice talk to her from somewhere.

Everything goes dark for these people as they all instantly fall asleep.

When they wake up the following morning, Conover County and its residents has gone through a strange transformation. The library is reduced to rubble and Sheriff Morgan – untouched by the strange event – realizes that his handcuffed prisoner not only escaped but also twisted the handcuffs as if they were made of Silly Putty. What comes home to the trailer park is David, alright, but his appearance has greatly changed. Wyatt wakes up realizing he just got into a collision with a shotgun-wielding townie only to realize that Wyatt has super strength and just when he realizes that he can fly … he gets run over by a vampire-like creature that looks like it a woman. Suddenly, Sheriff Morgan realizes that there are monsters in his town.

While Brad is dealing with his undead girl and Luanne coming to the realization that nothing can leave Conover County breathing, Amanda Walker wakes up to the voice she heard before she and everyone in the county blacked out. The voice is both warm and comforting and even when the person tells her that Amanda was meant to be the stranger’s apprentice and that she would gain great power used to combat “he who sleeps but now is awake.” She’s even given a symbol that would show her authority.

As Wyatt deals with the vampire that is trying to sink her fangs into him, he gets help from the Sheriff who doesn’t seem to have been affected by the event. He lends the young man a hand but comes to realize that he will need Wyatt but for what remains to be seen. While we do get a good peek at the supernatural elements and Lovecraft-inspired monsters, Williams does a brilliant job of weaving the story that is sure to get even more better in the next issues. Topped off with gorgeous art from Fiona Staples who makes the images really come to life.

It’s work like North 40 #1 that makes me glad I love comics and even more so when the tale is cleverly told and the panels filled with amazing art that brings it all together in a perfect package. As the story introduces its players and the power of the dark force that was awakened, we can only sit back and wait for the next volume and the next with much anticipation. This one is definitely a winner and one we will carefully keep an eye on for sure.

COMIC REVOLUTION RATING BREAKDOWN

STORY: A
In the dusty shotgun-loving Conover County, two bored-out-of-their-minds teens open an unusual book of ancient power that instantly puts everyone to sleep. When they all wake up, however, the aftermath of the event is powerfully evident and downright strange. As a few people try to make sense of what is going on in their county, a girl is being prepared to combat a supernatural threat heading their way.

ART: A+
The art by Fiona Staples is, by far, some of the best we’ve seen and it fits this series beautifully to the point that you can’t help but going back and reading this one all over again. Even the cover is easy on the eyes.

OVERALL: A
Genuinely creepy and wildly imaginative, North 40 has all the makings of an instant classic and a comic you should definitely not miss. The first issue alone manages to outshine anything even Stephen King could dream up and that’s saying a lot right there. Consider us hooked on this series and if you pick it up so will you.

Red Herring #1 – Review

Reviewer: Emma Coverdale

Publisher: WildStorm (DC Comics)
Writer: David Tischman and Philip Bond
Artist: David Hahn
Genre: Comic Book
MSRP: $2.99
Release Date: Available Now

“Blue Makes Her Look Fat.”

As a conspiracy junkie myself, the prospect of a comic book about secret organizations, government cover-ups and other conspiracy theories linked to UFOs had me anticipating the arrival of the first issue of Red Herring. When it finally arrived, I found myself hoping – no – wishing that it would be just as good as I imagined it would be and the truth is that it’s not only very promising but Red Herring also has all the makings of a truly unforgettable series.

In the country’s capital, a young woman by the name of Maggie MacGuffin prepares herself for yet another day at work. Going through the usual motions of chatting with her mother while getting dressed in front of her two roommates, Maggie wonders if she likes the direction her life is going or whether or not she likes the man her mother is dating. She even wonders about her job as an aide to a Democrat Congressman representing the state of Florida. She tells herself she even likes being tossed about the room by said Congressman who she is having an affair with seeing as the man is married.

In other words, Maggie questions her life and her happiness. That makes her a lot like everyone else and thus likeable character we can certainly relate to in this series. In the same city, two men in suits and looking very much like government spooks are speaking to a man named Meyer Weiner (get it?). Weiner is looking to help the two agents, one of which is a redheaded male who also goes by the moniker “Red Herring”). The man is asked to give the red haired man some documents and will meet in the park at night.

The story also focuses on a moment in 1951 in Fort Worth, Texas when a General comes knocking on the door of a secretive government building where a man in a white lab coat shows him a most startling item that was shipped from Roswell, New Mexico. The sight of the thing in the locker is enough to shock the General and offer all the resources the man might need. How this event will tie in to the story remains to be seen but it certainly covers the conspiracy aspect of the series.

Speaking of conspiracies, we also meet the heads of The Capricorn Group, a well-financed private foundation with a special interest in global security and the ability to bend political matters by way of creating demonstrations and other actions. This is where Weiner works and organizes the group’s file as a clerk. Ah, the plot definitely thickens. This fact doesn’t sit well with the new Security Chief, Cademon Hoyle.

When Maggie gets a call from who she thinks was the Congressman looking for a late night tryst when she gets attacked by a familiar face. In fact, she is nearly strangled to death and dropped beneath a small bridge where she is discovered by yet another familiar face who was waiting for Weiner to show up. It is here where the real story begins as these character’s lives collide on this fateful night.

A very promising start for a series about conspiracies and intrigue, Red Herring’s first issue is not only well-written but it also has good art that makes this a nice little package worth opening. While it’s still too early to tell how this story will turn out, what we see so far is a story that just aims to be an interesting series with a lot to offer.

COMIC REVOLUTION RATING BREAKDOWN

STORY: B+
Maggie MacGuffin tells herself that she likes her body, her job and the Congressman who she has an affair with in her life as the Congressman’s aide. On the other side of the spectrum is a man known as the “Red Herring” who is plans on bringing down an organization that might just control the government itself. These two people will meet on a fateful night that will change both their lives.

ART: A-
David Hahn’s art is still a personal favorite artist of mine since Bite Club: Vampire Crime Unit and he does a magnificent job with this first issue.

OVERALL: B+
Red Herring has all the makings of a truly intriguing and downright appealing series that is worth checking out if you love a tale with interesting twists and turns. This is also a well-written and wonderfully drawn first issue that definitely shows a lot of promise. I know we’re definitely going to check out the next issue.

Greetings from the Revolution’s Headquarters

Hello, you might not know me but you may know my big brother Edward Zacarias who is the editor-in-chief of the blog site, Animanga Nation. In our household, we have stacks of classical literature and books about art but the collection our house is most proud of is the gargantuan library that holds our greatest treasure … comics!

Of course, big brother has always been fond of manga over any other graphic novels and has had a long love affair with anime since our father came back from a business trip to Japan with VHS tapes introducing him to Robotec and Astro Boy.

As for me, give me Marvel and give me DC. Give me homegrown domestic or foreign graphic novels. If we were living in Cuba I’d be the one smuggling in great classics such as The Watchmen or The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen to the people who want it so badly. I love The Punisher and swoon at the sight of Batman. I’m no Archie and Jughead girl because my heart belongs to The Walking Dead.

And so, with that in mind, I decided to open my office right next to big brother’s office to form our own blog site. I even gather my small army of revolutionaries as well, one of which also writes and helps keep Animanga Nation in line … the admirable and dedicated anime/manga addict Faith McAdams. Here’s the rest of my staff …

Sienna Rockette, AKA Reviews Editor, is my former High school BFF who would ditch with me to our local comic book store and buy a bunch of comics to read in the park nearby. She’s been addicted to comics as long as I have and has a boy-like love for boy’s comics like the X-Men. Her favorite graphic novels happen to be Y: The Last Man.

Emma Coverdale, fellow reviewer, Emma has literally grown up in a comic book store her parents owned and operated in Chicago. While their parents retired, her love for comic books has never retired along with them. She is a lover of manga too, which shows you how much she loves all comics.

Jerry Tilden began reading comics at the tender age of 3 … of course all he could do was look at the pretty drawings and drool on them. He always tells us that when he was growing and given the choice between getting a toy or getting a graphic novel he would pick the graphic novel every time.

So, we’re just getting started here so I hope you will stay by our side and join our little revolution as we bring you comic reviews and other comic propaganda.

Long live the revolution!

Eden Zacarias
Editor-in-Chief