This week, the Wednesday Comics Review team kicks off the new year with Lucky Devils #1, Death of Copra #1, and more! Warning: Possible spoilers.
Are you a weekly comic sicko? You’ve come to the right place. The Beat’s reviews team is here to write about new #1 titles from non-Big 2 publishers, finales, and other noteworthy issues in the store…enjoy!
Lucky Devil #1
writer: Charles Soule
artist: Ryan Brown
Colorist: Ryan Brown and Kevin Knipstein
Writer: Christopher Quinn
Publisher: dark horse comics
Comments by Jordan Jennings
What happens when two disgruntled devils are assigned to turn the kindest, healthiest people in the world into villains? Why they decided to topple Hell. Lucky devil is the latest project Charles Soule and Ryan Brown The following Eight billion elves and Lucky devil Got off to a good start.
Charles Soule’s writing in this first issue is sharp and witty. The intercut look at the lives of the two main humans, Cam Stann and Starr Wilson, is a smart choice as we see the devil trying to twist them into the worst possible person they can be. There are a lot of misdirections and diversions throughout the first act of the issue. We see Cam and Starr sometimes give in to their inner emotional temptations. This is achieved through symmetry between parallel storytelling and character stories.
It’s interesting that Cam and Starr’s lives parallel those of the demons Korra and Riker. The demons themselves are not happy with their lives and appear to be morally good demons, at least as far as demons go. The premise of hell as an office job isn’t new, but the devil’s plan to subvert the system is certainly new and interesting. Considering how much time is spent with Cam and Starr, it’s impressive how well each character’s motivations and dynamics are established. I love that the decisions Soule makes in telling the story are both economical and decisive.
Ryan Brown’s art is gorgeous. Brown makes extensive use of parallel and symmetrical storytelling in the page layout. Often we can see symmetry by using a double page spread or placing each demon and human panel in a column. Character designs are visually unique and expressive. Human emotions largely determine the tone and frustration of both humans and demons.
Ryan Brown & Kevin KnipsteinThe colors have this wonderful painterly style that can work in acrylic or grungy. It gives the book a distinct visual look and texture, and the use of color tones and emotions is quite common, especially to convey the effects of anger or jealousy on humans. Nice visual reminder and something simple and effective.
Lucky Devil #1 A good start to a new series. The overall concept is familiar, but finds a novel way to make it stand out. The story of two demons destroying hell. Soule and Brown have created a comic that is enjoyable, heartwarming, and thoughtful. If this continues, they will be hit again. Now, I find myself moving Eight Billion Elves to the top of my reading pile.
judgment: purchase
Death by copra #1
Writer/Artist/Author: Michelle Fife
Publisher: Image comics
Review by Zach Quintens
Death by copra #1 The end of one of the greatest independent comics achievements of our time. If you are not familiar with copra It’s the author’s comic vision Michelle Fifewhich he began self-publishing in late 2012 and has published more than 50 issues copraand a behind-the-scenes book about the achievement, Create copra. It’s a riff on the 1980s suicide squad Comics, conveyed through Fife’s bold page layouts, compelling and precise character designs, and complex emotional character arcs. Death by copra #1 A four-part miniseries is expected to conclude the series.
As a separate question, Death by copra #1 is a continuation of the ongoing storyline, done in a way that feels accessible and interspersed with reminders of who the characters are and what’s going on. Fife’s comic production is as sharp as ever. like all copra, The book looks fantastic, and the cleverness and clarity of its storytelling will quickly draw you in. From that perspective, it’s a bittersweet read, much like a long-running series can be as it moves toward its conclusion.
If you have already participated coprayou’ll love this question. If you’ve never joined, I think this question might be a good litmus test to see if you want to go back and read all the previous content. This question contains everything defined coprafrom ongoing superhero spy homages to nuanced experimental comics.
Yes, I loved the first issue. I liked it so much that I might be ready for the ending copraby going back and re-reading everything that led us to this point.
judgment: purchase
Wednesday Comics Quick Review
Cruel Kingdom #1 (Ghost Press): This is a fantasy anthology filled with monsters; the ones we create and the ones we try to stop. Composed of four short stories Cruel Kingdom #1giving each creative team space to tell a tight and interesting story. The author of the first “Blood of the Machine King” is Greg Parker and art Leomax and color by Inaki Aspiasoua gory story about using machines to keep human hands clean. The author of the second book “The Friendly Visitor”: Al Ewing and art Kanotells the story of a space explorer who visits a dream village. The fantasy setting reinforces the analogies well here, exploring weapons of war, tools of colonization, and justifications for massacre and conquest. At the heart of all these stories is a concern with the human condition. Our arrogance, our selfishness, our capacity for violence. The author of the third story “Death and the Pickaxe” is Chris Condon and art Charlie AdlardThe story follows a dwarf’s rage and revenge against a woman whom he sees only as an object. The author of Part 4 “Devil’s Face”: Ben Winters and art Andrea Muti and color by Michael Atiyeh, One in which the sword has been set in stone and the desire for personal greatness has replaced caution. letters consist of Richard Starkings and comics Tyler Smitheach story here is beautifully illustrated and expressively written, contributing to the whole; offering an unforgettable, fantastical look at where we are as a society and as individuals. I think it’s well worth picking up and sitting down with. —Khalid Johnson
Those Who Are Not Afraid #1 (Dark Horse Comics): Kyle Starks TI’m willing to follow writers from anywhere, even genres like horror and thrillers that I usually avoid. One thing Starks has always done well is take high concepts and ground them in the mundane, often to comedic effect. There are fewer laughs here, but the use of contrast is equally effective. In a small town, two serial killers, fueled by a true crime podcast, compete to break the state record for serial killer murders. This book is truly disturbing. Starks stands out for his impeccable dialogue and ability to shape his characters through interactions. Even amidst all the bloodshed, he still makes room for small moments of dark humor. But it’s not perfect. Some awkward layouts and unclear transitions make some scenes difficult to follow; one of our leads is introduced in a series of panels, and it’s hard to tell what he’s doing or what their relationship is. Some font choices also affect the actual reading experience. For example, the dialogue is written in all capital letters, but when Los Angeles is called “LA,” it’s blended in with the rest of the words, and the meaning isn’t obvious as opposed to using punctuation or some kind of stylization. On their own, these small moments are easy to overlook, but taken together they make the book feel disjointed. The book would have benefited from a stronger editorial staff pointing out these moments where actions or words are unclear. But in most cases, Patrick PiazzalengaThe art is eye-catching. The use of heavy blacks and the way he reduces the killers to minimalist facial features to emphasize their lack of humanity is shocking. Despite some obstacles, it was the big concept and Starks’ script that made me revisit this. —Tim Rooney
progress report
AD 2000 2414 (Rebel Publishing): The headline news in this issue is SWAT Judge: Soft Talk – Part 1, Continuing Judge Maitland’s police reform storyline that culminated in one of last year’s best comics, Judge Dredd: A better world. For this new story, the writers Rob Williams and Arthur Wyatt Back, working with artists jack lynch, Colorist Jim Boswell, and engraver Anne Parkhouse. We already know the whereabouts of Major Domo, one of the villains a better worlda different short arc last year. Now, this new story is interested in how the aftermath affects the city, and perhaps Dredd in particular. There are some interesting clues here complicating Dredd’s life that he has so far been unaware of. I think this is a great start to a story that I’ve been looking forward to ever since A better world ends. I also have some ideas The Devil on the Western Front – Wilde West (I really like it) but I will wait for the future Avant-garde Reports share these. As always, you can get a digital copy of Avant-garde here. —Zach Quentins
Read more entries in our weekly Wednesday Comic Review series!
Next week, the Wednesday Comic Critics Panel will discuss the super finale of Night’s second storyline, the latest stories from Horizon Experiments, and more!
