Hey folks, a couple of weeks ago I headed up to Birmingham to the International Comic Expo (ICE) to see some friends and spend some money on awesome comics. I’m slowly working my way through everything I picked up at the show but I wanted to bring you the first lot of comic reviews while I trot through the next batch.
Rok of the Reds
First up is Rok of the Reds by John Wagner and Alan Grant (Judge Dredd, A History of Violence).
I’d heard about this from the guys on the Awesome Comic Podcast and saw writer John Wagner at Worcester Comic Con a few weeks before, but since I’d been working at that event I had no money and couldn’t pick up the books. At ICE I was prepared though and grabbed the first 3 issues. Rok is a shape shifting alien from a far away world, the last of his race, who comes to earth fleeing destruction. He’s massive and red and kind of stands out so, to conceal himself while he works on a weapon to take revenge, he disguises himself as a footballer. Yeah, really.
Now, I don’t even like football, but I really got into this tale of the bad boy who is replaced by a shape shifting alien. His powers mean he can emulate the skills of whoever he becomes so while the footballer he replaced was wasting his talent, Rok makes the most of it. There’s also a sweet little side plot where Rok befriends the son of the woman who runs the boarding house he is living in that I think is going to pay off down the line.
Issues 1-3 of Rok of the Reds are available now from BHP Comics, issue 4 is due in October 2016.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens #3
Next up I went to see the amazing Marc Laming to pick up Star Wars: The Force Awakens #3. I follow Marc on twitter and after witnessing the epic saga of his inks for this one I had to grab the finished issue (and get it signed of course). I mean seriously, when this is the kind of thing he posts on twitter you can’t help but want to see the finished thing.
Rey get’s ready to punch it! pic.twitter.com/pLMllFaGMY
— Marc Laming NYCC R7! (@monkey__marc) July 3, 2016
I’ve since picked up #1&2 and while they tell the story pretty adequately there’s something missing, something that you realise when you get to #3. Marc captures the familiar faces better than the previous artist, sure Finn, Rey, Han and Poe were recognisable in #1&2 but in #3 they ARE the faces you know. The art is glorious, realistic yet at the same time it has this kind of dream like quality, which is enhanced by things like alternative angles in some scenes e.g. Kylo Ren and Supreme Leader Snoke.
If you’re a Star Wars fan, even if you just loved The Force Awakens, I would definitely recommend getting into this series and just wait till you get to #3 and Marc’s gorgeous work.
Night Soul: Strength of Souls
Last up for this bunch of reviews is Night Soul, produced by the All Knightz comic collective whose output features all original, totally badass (from what I have seen) characters of colour. Night Soul #1 is the start of a gangster crime thriller set in a future London written by Felisha Mason. Night Soul himself is a mystery vigilante out to bring down the crime boss running things in town. The first issue gives just enough information and teases you just enough to bring you back for issue 2. Check them out on twitter or their youtube channel where you can check out promos for Night Soul and their other titles. Issue 2 of Night Soul is coming soon
Issue 2 of my up and coming comic Night Soul, are you ready? This business woman is busy ??? pic.twitter.com/h6BcVmfGCX
— Leasha AllKnightz (@xleasha25x) September 18, 2015
All Knightz also have two other titles running at the moment, Kaols Kingdom which is more anime/fantasy style and Hard Wired which is a solid sci-fi/tech world. I plan to check out the rest of their titles as soon as I can.
Okay, that’s it from me for now, I’ll be back with more comic reviews once I’ve had a chance to plough through some more of my haul from ICE, still to come Apes’N’Capes, Bubbles Oh-Seven, The Kill Screen and PI Charles.
