Our Fresh Friday Features returns with a set of exciting stories to tell! A creepy and spooky sci-fi with secrets, an unstoppable hero, a mythical ancient warrior queen, and a reaper who just wants a friend. There's something for everyone!
This week, Ben from Comic Book Squares and ArtCrumbs have picked out four titles that they feel deserve more reads! In our line-up this week, we've got one comic from each category to give you a varied list of must-reads for your weekend!
- Comic - Stagnant Waters: In one night the world will be changed forever as plans are made behind closed doors, visitors arrive from places unknown and two young men are set on a path toward a destiny far greater than either of them could ever imagine.
- Graphic Novel - Bro-D Can't be Broken: People from every background intermingle in clean megacities across the globe, but a group of beings called Deywos, who claim to be Earth's ancient gods, are harassing the human cities, hoping to terrorize humanity back into submission.
- Manga - Key to the Golden Continent: A bountiful land concealed from the eyes of the world, awaiting the day its conqueror returns to life and reclaims her throne.
- Webcomic - I'm Mortal: Morty is a reaper, but he wishes to befriend a human. It's not easy, since most humans see him as an intimidating skeleton, which makes it hard to start any friendship at all, so Morty decides to pretend to be a mortal himself.
Now that we've met our four fresh picks, let's dig into each of them! Today, Ben from Comic Book Squares and ArtCrumbs will provide comments about the series and why you should read it too!
Stagnant Waters, 33 pages - Published by A Gift Tomorrow Publishing, (cc/ @AGTPublishing)
Foreboding and sinister secrets creep quietly into the now as consequences of actions millennia old unfurl. Meanwhile, the troubles of the future weigh so heavily that they threaten to crush everything beneath them. A wave of change rides through the universe that will touch all of space and time. A new era this way comes and with it; untold mystery and danger. In one night the world will be changed forever as plans are made behind closed doors, visitors arrive from places unknown and two young men are set on a path toward a destiny far greater than either of them could ever imagine.
Story and Art by A Gift Tomorrow Publishing
Comments from Ben @Comic Book Squares:
This first issue of “Stagnant Waters” feels like “Greatest American Hero” had a child with “Edge of Tomorrow” and it was raised by Funimation.
Time travelers, aliens, a criminal empire, eco-terrorists, and a high-tech corporation all collide … and two young friends are caught in the crossfire! When Ian and Quentin are seemingly imbued with superpowers after an alien abduction, they’re now sought after by mysterious forces. And that’s not to mention the other story threads started in issue 1.
The story was fast-paced and covered a lot for a first issue, but I never felt lost. It was like watching the first episode of a Netflix sci-fi show - lots to cover, but you know it’s all going to connect. There’s a lot to read here, but you can’t build a massive world like writer James W. Walton III is trying to do without some exposition. Thankfully, the story didn’t suffer at all for it.
I was most enthralled by the wonderful artwork by David Negrete and colors by Rob Jones. I really felt like I was looking at screenshots from an animated series, that’s how good it was. The panel layouts kept the tension flowing, and there is a splash page I definitely want to see in print - two spaceships in combat over a cityscape.
Issue 2 can’t come quickly enough!
Bro-D Can't be Broken, 67 pages - Published by Band of Bards Comics, (cc/ @BandofBards)
In the year 2095, humanity is on the right track to recover from catastrophic climate change and to begin a new era of advancement. People from every background intermingle in clean megacities across the globe, and a commitment to tolerance marks their developing international society. But a group of beings called Deywos, who claim to be Earth's ancient gods, are harassing the human cities, hoping to terrorize humanity back into submission. The only person who can stand in their way is Bro-D, a genetically-modified teen who was altered and trained to save lives in the face of a mass crisis.
Story and Art by Band of Bards Comics
Comments from Ben @Comic Book Squares:
Humanity just can’t catch a break, but thankfully the nearly invulnerable Bro-D is there to take the punches for us!
Just as the people of Earth have finally come together to join forces and solve the world’s ills, powerful beings claiming to be ancient gods begin attacking to stop humans from uniting. But since it’s the year 2095, we’re able to fight back with genetically-modified humans, including hero Bro-D.
What I loved about this graphic novel is that even though writer, artist, and letterer (what didn’t he do?!) Ben Humeniuk establishes a larger world with myriad possible stories, this one stays contained and tightly packaged without losing any of the excitement and danger. Every time I thought I knew what was going to happen to Bro-D and his partner M-Ander in their citywide battle against the demigod Bregghammer, I was continuously shocked and surprised!
Humeniuk’s artwork and lettering was also wonderful. At times it was chaotic with the heat of battle, yet when characters shared more intimate moments, the linework was clear and focused. It was almost cinematic in that way. In fact, if Humeniuk gets a film made of this story, I’ll be going opening night!
KEY TO THE GOLDEN CONTINENT, 29 pages - Published by Markers and Potatoes, (cc/ @Markers-and-Potatoes)
Oradéspada, the Golden Continent - A bountiful land concealed from the eyes of the world, awaiting the day its conquerer returns to life and reclaims her throne. The inhabitants seek purpose, not realizing that true fulfillment lies just beneath the giant’s ancient blade.
Story and Art by Markers and Potatoes
Comments from @ArtCrumbs:
From the Cover and the first page, I was hooked right away! Bones in cloth? I gotta know what's up! We follow a strange and mysterious woman as she climbs mountains and meets a mysterious canid figure, something ethereal. She sits on her throne and the real story starts! A mysterious key (set of keys) and some crazy scientists, bizarre smokey monsters that look suspiciously similar to the canid figure from before. There's a lot to see here and I'm eagerly awaiting the next one!
The art is also very lovely, there's no shyness of backgrounds, it's clean or rough when it needs to be. I think one of the things that struck me the most was the amazing use of dynamic perspective. It's a difficult thing to use and use well, and despite how often there is a dramatic angle, it still flows very well. I think the story gives us just enough information in the beginning to make me want more. Already lots of action and exciting panels. I think anyone with a love of mythology, lore, and of course, swords and beasts would love this manga!
I'm Mortal, 57 pages - Published by J. Lovelace, (cc/ @JutaLovelace)
Morty is a reaper, but he wishes to befriend a human. It's not easy, since most humans see him as an intimidating skeleton, which makes it hard to start any friendship at all. However, one day Morty meets Lance who not only sees him as a regular person, but also believes that Morty is just a regular guy. Scared that Lance may reject him once he knows the truth, Morty decides to pretend to be a mortal himself.
Story and Art by J. Lovelace
Comments from @ArtCrumbs:
What an adorable series! This comic is a fun take on the Grim Reaper who just wants some friends! The problem is that he usually just looks like a scary skeleton! It's interesting that this particular story ALSO focuses on the world, the Netherworld, that the reapers and other undead live in. I really hope that we can explore that world more.
Up to the current release, we've seen our Reaper friend, Morty, fail at every attempt, but I'm optimistic that he can find someone! That bird seems to like mocking him more than being helpful! It's actually very cute to see that relationship and I'm curious to see how they play into Morty looking for a human friend.
Overall this is a very cute episodic-in-nature story so far, and I'm really curious to see more! The style is soft and gentle, just like our character, Morty. It fits perfectly into the story. Well done Lovelace and I lookforward to the next one!
That's all for now, but we'll have another set of Fresh Friday reading recommendations next week. If you're looking for more recommendations, make sure to opt in for our weekly reading list email! You can find that in your User Profile Notification settings. You can also browse through our Featured Comics news section!
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ebeaird 2 years ago
great article, you explained the highlights very eloquently.