In the world of Western comic books, there are five basic
categories. You have Marvel, DC, Image, Dark Horse, and the independents. The
former four are often considered the Big Four, while every comic not made by
them is stuffed into the independents category. Because of the lack of a big company
name, independent comics tend to get overlooked by the public, which is a shame
because if it weren’t for independent publishers, we wouldn’t have great books
like Atomic Robo, one of my personal favorite Western comic books.
I was very pleased to hear that another independent comic
publisher would throw their hat into the ring this July. After teasing the
release with their “Independents Day” ads, Monkeybrain Comics has officially
been born, and it’s released five new comics exclusively through Comixology.
There’ve been talks of physical copies being released later on, but right now
you can buy all of their comics digitally for dirt cheap. While they’re shorter
than the 20-plus page issues we’re used to seeing, at 99 cents each, they’re
worth it, and they show promise as ongoing stories. Since I’ll be covering five
comics in one article, I won’t be as in-depth with each as them as I would with
a single comic review. I’ll be listing the good and the bad for each comic,
figuring out which comics would best suit you.
Aesop’s Ark
Script: J. Torres
Art: Jennifer L. Meyer
Summary:
The issue opens with a summary. “Animals on the Ark
exchanging anecdotes. Sharing stories to weather the storm. Fables will keep
them afloat during the flood. Listen. And Learn.” The first issue deals with
animals on Noah’s ark trying to keep a leak closed. One of the turtles has
plugged the hole, but no one else wishes to help him until a lion tells them a
story, warning them about the consequences of not helping with another’s load.
The Good:
Aside from one page, the entire book is done in black and
white illustrations. Despite the lack of color, it looks gorgeous and extremely
detailed. Every animal looks realistic, and yet they have enough expression to
look personified without looking like cartoon animals. It’s a delicate balance
that’s been pulled off perfectly. The fable told by the lion is a good moral
tale, one that’s dark but sensible.
The Bad:
While the fable he tells is nice, we don’t get a real feel for
the character of the lion. This doesn’t seem to be a character-driven series,
meaning the real drive will be the fables.
Final Thoughts:
Aesop’s Ark has the feel of a good children’s book. It’s a
cute story with amazing artwork and a good moral. I’d recommend it to comic
book readers who want to share comics with their young kids or siblings.
Amelia Cole and the Unknown World
Writers: Adam P. Knave and D.J. Kirkbride
Artist: Nick Brokenshire
Summary:
Amelia Cole lives in two worlds: the magic and the
non-magic. Only Amelia and her aunt Dani know how to travel between these
worlds, but this all changes when a persuasion demon attacks the non-magic
world and Amelia becomes a fugitive of the magic world. With nowhere else to
turn, she’s forced into a world she’s never known before.
The Good:
Right away the book focuses on building the worlds of Amelia
Cole. It starts in media res with Amelia fighting the persuasion demon and
showing how deadly persuasion demons really are. It shows Amelia as someone who
knows magic well and can deal with dangerous foes. The twist at the end of the
story leaves room for endless adventure and opportunities. It’s also the
longest of the Monkeybrain issues, passing the 20 page mark.
The Bad:
Despite being the longest of the books, it has the worst
pacing of the bunch. The problem is that while it tries hard to establish the
worlds and Amelia’s capability as a mage, it leaves little room for anything
else. We see a friend of Amelia’s in the non-magic world, but she’s essentially
a quick cameo. Her aunt Dani is important, but we don’t spend much time with
her either. Because of how fast this issues plows through the plot, we’re left
with little time to care for the characters.
Final Thoughts:
Pacing issues aside, this is a fun read for those interested
in some urban fantasy. The art is pretty good, and the next issue could really
go anywhere. If the series can slow down and take advantage of its page length,
it could be a solid series.
Bandette
Writer: Paul Tobin
Artist: Colleen Coover
Summary:
Bandette is a modern-day French thief in a similar vein as
Arsene Lupin. She steals from bad guys, but there’s no word on whether she
keeps the stolen goods or gives them to the poor like Robin Hood. During one of
her heists, a man known as Monsieur is called to steal something called the
1794 American Flowing Hair Dollar.
The Good:
What I like most about the Monkeybrain comics is the
diversity of art. Bandette’s art style is reminiscent of European adventure
comics such as Tintin, but with a unique flair thanks to the quality inking by
Colleen Coover. There are some fun jokes made, and we’re introduced to several
characters and their personality quirks early on. We also see what makes
Bandette special as a thief; she has a network of friends who are able to cover
her escapes and a costume that can be reversed into a bag and skirt for a quick
wardrobe change.
The Bad:
This is more of a nitpick, but Bandette talks too much
during her heist. Playful banter is nice, but when there’s only one character
and a dog on the page, there’s no need to talk during every panel, especially
when said character is trying to be sneaky.
Final Thoughts:
This is my favorite of the Monkeybrain Comics alongside my
last entry of the list, and probably the most fun. There’s a nice hook at the
end of the comic hinting at an even grander heist, but this small heist was
enough to grab my attention. If you’re just looking for a fun time, pick up
Bandette.
Edison Rex
Writer: Chris Roberson
Artist: Dennis Culver
Summary:
Edison Rex is the world’s smartest man and greatest criminal
genius. Valiant is the world’s strongest man and the protector of the earth.
They’re ready to have their final showdown until Edison convinces Valiant that
he’s a threat to the world and must be removed. Now Edison must become
protector of the earth.
The Good:
Edison Rex and Valiant are clearly pastiches of Lex Luthor
and Superman, but with a twist. Lex has often called Superman a threat to
humanity, but his counterpart is actually right, and the explanation for why is
pretty clever. Watching a man who once tried to conquer Earth instead protect
might be fun in later issues.
The Bad:
While I’ve praised the artwork in the other Monkeybrain
books, I can’t stir up that same love here. The art isn’t bad, but it looks
stiff and blocky. It’s strange seeing Edison as buff as Valiant, the strongest
man on Earth. It would have helped the comic if Edison had a different body
type from Valiant, but the comic chose not to go this route. There are also several panels where the same
facial expression is repeated.
Final Thoughts:
The concept of the story is enough for me to recommend it.
It’s the only true superhero story by Monkeybrain Comics, but it has a nice
twist. As much as I don’t like the art, I’ve seen far worse and it’s easy to
get over.
The October Girl
Writer and artist: Matthew Dow Smith
Summary:
Adulthood never turns out the way we expect it. What we believed as a child never sticks,
including our imaginary friends. However, as Autumn will find out, sometimes
our childhoods have a way of coming back in unexpected ways.
The Good:
The first issue is dedicated entirely to setting up Autumn
as a character. We spend most of the comic reading her thoughts, her fears, and
her problems. Her plight is a realistic one. She’s a woman who’s entering the
adult world and she’s realized how much it can suck. She never once comes
across as whiny and instead becomes sympathetic. The end hints at the plot
taking a turn for the more fantastical, but so far, it’s the most realistic of
the Monkeybrain books. Once again, the art is unique from the other books,
using white, black, and blue to create some stunning shading and shadows.
The Bad:
With the exception of Amelia Cole, these issues are very
short, and this short length is The October Girl’s biggest flaw. You get sucked
into the story, only to have it end within a few minutes.
Final Thoughts:
Short length is a very small flaw in the grand scheme of
things, especially when it’s only the first issue. This and Bandette were my
favorite of the Monkeybrain books, having the right blend of great art and
creative storytelling, but if you had to twist my arm and ask me to recommend
only one Monkeybrain comic, it would be The October Girl.
I hope this list helped you decide if you want to invest in
Monkeybrain Comics. There’s a lot of potential in this new brand for unique
creator-driven stories that we don’t see from the Big 4. I think comic book
readers need to expand their horizons every now and then, and this is a good
way to do just that. If Monkeybrain releases more comics, I may review them.
No comments:
Post a Comment