BPM: Beatdowns Per Minute #1 Review – A Comic That Will Make Beat Em Up Fans Fall In Love
BPM: Beatdowns Per Minute #1 is the latest comic written by Dave Cook along with artist Steve Gregson, collectively known as “Team Beats.” Along with Colourist Matt Herms and Rob Jones on Letters. This was another crowdfunded project and thank goodness it reaches it’s goal because it’s a real charm to read.
Plot
Anyone familiar with Dave Cook’s previous projects won’t find any surprises here, not to say that’s a bad thing but this is familiar territory in an unfamiliar world. A small town that’s plagued with crime is the setting where we follow the story of a pair of cops, one feisty and hot headed and one more timid and cynical, wanting more than his simple family life. Both trying to clear the streets with one just a little more obsessed than the other, though it is hinted at why she’s as obsessive as she is. Most put it down to a design flaw but I believe Maya has a good reason to be the way she is. All will reveal itself eventually.
The story, at least for #1, is fairly straightforward, with a twist anyone familiar will have seen a mile off and the conclusion to that twist likely to be as easy to predict. Like I said there’s nothing new here besides it’s setting and style and that’s where this comic really shines.
Beat Em Up Games
The whole story, visually, gets all of it’s style from classic Beat Em Up games, something that I absolutely love. Things from Maya’s ridiculously cheesy names for her special moves to the “thwack” sign when someone is punched, complete with special speech bubble. The whole thing is cheesy and over the top, exactly as these games generally are. It plays perfectly and comfortably into it’s setting.
I have to be honest, I’m not sure I’d love this comic as much if I weren’t a beat em up game fan. Thankfully I am one but for those of you who aren’t, you’ve still got a good enough story to read here and some fantastic artwork, just don’t expect too much. This is a comic that knows who it wants it’s audience to be and writes for them in mind and that’s a great thing, because as far as video game based comics go, this is already one of the best.
I cannot wait to get my hands on volume 2!
