Comics Review: SAVAGE THINGS #1 from Vertigo

By pghhead -

SAVAGE THINGS #1 (DC/VERTIGO Comics, May 2017 cover date)  Writer: Justin Jordan.  Artist: Ibrahim Moustafa.  Colorist: Jordan Boyd.  Letterer: Josh Reed.  Suggested for mature readers. www.vertigocomics.com

 

   The premise here is not new, and will be familiar to anyone who’s watched a fair share of action movies and television shows or has read enough thriller novels:  young children, either orphaned or abducted, are taught to become assassins by covert government organizations or subversive groups.

 

   While it’s a recurring theme, it can still be entertaining and engaging when the creative team manages to tell a good story. Based on the first issue, that appears to be exactly what readers are in store for with SAVAGE THINGS, a clever blending of horror within a modern spy tale.

 

     The first issues shows just enough of the background and training of the main character, known only as Abel - his given name within the Black Forest school of killers working for the government — to let readers know how dangerous he is. Apparently, at some point he left the organization and operates on his own.

 

    The opening pages, that reveal him to be a young firebug, begin with a shocking retelling of his recruitment day.  The present story begins twenty-five years later, when a bloody message at the scene of a massacre prompts his trainers to enlist his services.

 

     Much better than the last Bourne movie, SAVAGE THINGS could represent the new Vertigo book that I can follow. Don’t be afraid that this won’t catch hold amongst the myriad of books on comic shop shelves. It’s planned as an eight-issue mini-series; and I expect Vertigo to support a full run.

 

  BC RATING SYSTEM

 

 STORY:  I have to admit I’m a fan of Justin Jordan’s impressive body of work.  He can be very blunt and brutal at times, and always provides a few shocks or surprises for readers - of which there are plenty here. I’m withholding a point simply because the storyline treads familiar territory.  2 POINTS

ART:  This is my first exposure to Moustafa’s art. His style is simple and fluid, and especially good with facial expressions and clearly defined action scenes. The rest of the art team do an admirable job of enhancing the art with color, shading, and dark lines.  2.5 POINTS.

COVER:  The cover illustration gives a good indication of the type of story within the pages. However, John Paul Leon’s interpretation of the main character is not close enough to his depiction by Moustafa, which takes away from the power of the image. 1 POINT.

READ AGAIN?  Yes. Especially if you’re going to pick up the next issue and follow this one. 1 POINT.

RECOMMEND?  Yes. especially if you are looking for a good action/adventure story that doesn’t involved super-powers. 1 POINT.

TOTAL RATING: 7.5 POINTS. Worth checking out.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Robert Kirkman: Invincible, Walking Dead, Wolf-Man

By -
Image
I wasn't actually a huge fan of Robert Kirkman when I first started reading his books.  He was competent, sure, but I didn't see the appeal-- The Irredeemable Ant-Man was a boring side story in the middle of  Civil War and  The Initiative (although I've since changed my mind about this), and his  Ultimate X-Men run was, in many places, a mixed bag (although I did very much enjoy his "Phoenix?" storyline).  And  Marvel Zombies  just seemed like a ridiculous idea--not that I bothered to try it at the time. Now, though?  I've completely reevaluated my opinion on his work, and when his name is attached to a project, I'm far more likely to give it a look.  I don't know if I'd classify him as a master storyteller or a comics icon--but he's very skilled, he has an incredible knack for dialog, and he writes stories that, no matter how ridiculous, seem real .  In a medium where characters frequently violate the rules of physics, that's not alway...
Read more

INDIE COMICS: Huffin’ & puffin’ B.B. Wolf’s got the blues

By pghhead -
Image
BB WOLF AND THE THREE LPs  (Top Shelf, May 2010 hardcover, black & white, 86 pages,   $12.95)  As told by JD Arnold with illustrations by Richard Koslowski What got my attention immediately was the pairing up of a classic fairy tale with musical motifs.  That’s a combination that pushes two of my “hot buttons” - -  so I made it a must-read.  I was not disappointed.  This is a very entertaining and cleverly designed work that rivals Bill Willingham’s  creativity on the long-running FABLES series from Vertigo. As if taking the classic tale of the Big Bad Wolf and the Three Little Pigs and turning it upside down wasn’t enough to interest, BB WOLF AND THE THREE LPS  serves as an allegory for the oppression of  the black population in the deep South (Mississippi) in the 1920’s.  While they may be free (wolves),  the governing bodies (pigs) have the power to deny them their land, homes and possessions and even own the...
Read more

more random readings from May 2009

By pghhead -
Image
What else did I finish reading last month?  Here’s a cross-section of various titles . . . . . . . . . WITCHBLADE #126 “War Of The Witchblade Part 2” by Ron Marz and Stejepan Sejic  (Top Cow/Image) Preface:  Now here’s an interesting concept! = In order to attract new readers to its’ titles Top Cow is giving out free books each month as part of it’s Let Us Win You Over project.  ( www.topcow.com/freecomics )  Every month it’s a different title. And they work through different comics shops each month as well.  In April the title was Witchblade #126 and one of the participating dealers was Captain Blue Hen Comics in Newark, DE (my preferred supplier) so voila! - - - I find a copy in my hands. Since the last time I explored the Witchblade series the mythology has expanded to a battle between the forces of light and dark with each side choosing its agents on Earth, hence the Darkness vs. the Witchblade.  I’m still not overly interested in this typ...
Read more