Straight Forward Reviews : Ghost Town volume 1

The Action Lab Danger Zone title Ghost Town now has it's first arc collected into one neat paperback. Is it worth owning and getting started with the Ghost Town series? Find out here in Straight Forward Reviews.

Writer - Rob Rudell, Dave Dwonch, Ryan K. Lindsay

Artist - Justin Greenwood (issue 1) Daniel Logan (issue 2 - 4)

Publisher - Action Lab

Review by Jeremias de Leon

Story

Terrorists have taken over a time machine and sent bombs to unknown points in the future. One such bomb is set for D.C but no one knows when it will appear and go off.

The first issue details how the terrorists got the time machine and the set up for why Washington D.C is the way it is in the rest of the series. Starting with the second issue you enter into the life of Nate Lawson a man who will go into the predicted blast zone to retrieve things, for the right price of course. From here on there's quite a nice thriller story featuring crime lords, a woman, and Nate's mission to retrieve that woman for someone. There's a lot of tension around the story due to how run down D.C is and the impending threat of a nuclear bomb going off at some unknown time.

There's also plot twists. Plot twists, that are so unexpected you wonder if anybody is going to stay alive in the end at all.

Characters

Characterization is strong in this series. When you get to who the real, or seemingly, the main protagonist is you get a lot of developments that flesh him out and flesh the other characters and even the city out too. What's better is that it's pretty much all done during the story. Instead of flashbacks or heavy dialog the comic just has personalities and how the city's nature is revealed through the story. This method of having the characters reveal themselves "naturally" really helps the pacing as well which makes the comic more fun and not a chore at all to read. It also really gives a hook for reading the next issue so you can see just what the heck the characters are going to do next.

Art

Both artists runs on this series were well done. The first artist on the first issue had a gritty style that really worked well with the dark story, especially with how dark the first issue. In the second issue on when it focuses on specific characters in the seemingly doomed Washington, D.C the artist uses a stylized dynamic look. Both look great and both serve the story well.

Verdict

The cons in this first arc of the series are that the story seems a tad bit confusing. The premise is not hard to follow, neither are the characters exploits but at first I have to admit I wasn't sure who the characters were exactly save for the main character. The pros are that this is a very mature story that has well written characters and a premise that's intriguing and makes for a nice thriller. If you want a good thriller with the kind of plot twists that may make you yell "why would they do that?" then this is right up your alley. I give Ghost Town volume 1 a 9 out of 10.

Action Labs Month: Ghost Town # 1 Review

GHOST TOWN # 1
Written by Dave Dwonch
Art by Justin Greenwood & Brian Dyck
Action Labs: Danger Zone

FLIPPING THROUGH:

            We open to young “college aged” scientist making a major breakthrough (Slight SPOILER), they are about to send objects through time. When the breakthrough happens, it signals the beginning of a mount conspiracy against the country and its current regime. With CIA looking for the culprits, the American Reclamation Front make national threats which will lead to decimation and the reason why the title of the book is apt for it.

            As Agents Bronson and Hendricks lead the charge to bring down the terrorist group as the stakes get higher and higher after the destruction of more than 1 American City.  As the final confrontation comes to head … we find a very neat twist at the end of the story showing that this is far from over.


ART:

            Justin Greenwood gives a strong showing with his pencils and inks on this issue. While the style might seem rough, Greenwood makes it work extremely well. Everyone looks distinct. The President looks like the President. The action looks good and the more mundane scene really look good. Dyck provides good colors that liven up Greenwood’s pencils and inks.  The muted colors worked to give mystique to the story and keep its more conspiracy, thriller tone.

            The backgrounds are simple yet appealing. My only real gripe is that some of Greenwood’s pencils of the President are good, but others are looked a bit rushed. But overall, there my only real gripe artistically. This tandem worked well together in this outing and looking forward to more.


STORY:

            Dwonch weaves a great thriller with a sci-fi edge. The sci-fi edge is very limited but essential in the plot and Dwonch makes sure readers know that. From the beginning of the story to the final panel. Time Travel in any stories is tricky but Dwonch handles it with ease, enhancing this thriller.

            Dwonch shows us very interesting characters … even if they may not be around long. Hendricks and Bronson felt real in terms of reactions and what they were trying to accomplished. The American Reclamation Front felt like realistic and very devoted to their cause. This only made them more frightening … particularly at the end.

            I will admit, I was a little confused by Emil in the book because while he says he’s not a fighter, he clearly has no problem using weapons. That felt odd. Otherwise, Dwonch delivers a good paced, solid sci-fi, conspiracy thriller with Ghost Town.

OVERALL:

            While I did have a couple small gripes, Ghost Town # 1 delivers an enjoyable, gripping and hauntingly realistic look at technology and terrorism today. Good, solid art with a strong, thought provoking story that keeps you on your toes make this one shot a great opener to eventually because an ongoing … I hope. Great job by Dwonch, Greenwood, Dyck and crew.


RATING:

            With the destruction of 2 American Cities and a trippy, smart script, I give Ghost Town # 1 an 8.5 out of 10. This book has potential and is worth the buy. Get it.