Come with us into the dark underbelly of society. Heroes that aren't all they are cracked up to be, survival means doing some pretty bad things, birdwatching gone wrong in an all-consuming forest, and demons lurking around every corner. Today's Fresh Friday Features is all about facing our fears, and running head first into the darkness in front of us.
This week, Shane from Comic Book Squares, @byrononeal from Comic Book Yeti, 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 - Another Day at the Office: In a city full of superheroes is it possible for a cop to just do his job?
- Comic - I Hunt Monsters: Volume 1: A cataclysm has occurred and all the monsters captured since the dawn of history have escaped, and now I am alone. My destiny is sealed, my mission is clear.
- Graphic Novel - The Dark Forest: Seven friends set out on a birdwatching weekend in the middle of the Navarre forest. Little did they know that while they were watching the birds, something else was watching them. Something that wasn’t human.
- Manga - Toro D'Oro: Everything changed when a virus intended to regulate the population has instead caused the awakening of supernatural powers within a small fraction of its hosts. These people will become the essential players within the struggle for power.
Now that we've met our four fresh picks, let's dig into each of them!
Another Day at the Office, 51 pages - Published by Nerd Thug Comics, (cc/ @Corydlg)
In a city full of superheroes is it possible for a cop to just do his job? Detective Shitely is just trying to do right by his job and the city but it isn't easy when superheroes get all the love, attention, and the heavy lifting.
Story and Art by Nerd Thug Comics
Comments from Shane @comicbooksquares:
Detective Marcus Shitely is not just having a bad day, he’s having a bad life.
I’m a sucker for a good old fashioned detective story, so on the first page I knew I’d be all in.
This first issue does a great job of laying out the rules of this world and how our lead lives in it. There is also a lot of setting things up for what I have to assume are going to be future reveals. In this world superheroes are real and they operate under the umbrella of the The Union of Super-Powered Individuals or T.U.S.P.I.
With heroes fighting all the crime, it doesn’t really leave a lot for the regular cops to do.
The art is unique in that it leaves the pencil shading in place and doesn’t go over with heavy ink like you would see in traditional comic art. It’s a nice change and gives the book a soft almost pastel feel. Dan Garcia also has a real flare for camera angles, giving each panel a dynamic feel.
I’m already hooked, and I’m ready to see where the story goes next.
I Hunt Monsters, Vol. 1, 173 pages - Published by Antarctic Press, (cc/ @JDunn)
My family has failed. For uncounted millennia we have been the guardians of good, a cataclysm has occurred and all the monsters captured since the dawn of history have escaped, and now I am alone. My destiny is sealed, my mission is clear. I am William Warlock... I Hunt Monsters!
Story and Art by Craig Babiar and Rod Espinosa
Comments from @byrononeal:
I really wanted to do a creature feature for this week’s review. What I found did not disappoint. I Hunt Monster’s Volume 1 begins as a full throttle, joyous embracing of the classic monster genre, think Universal Classic Monsters meets Dragon Ball Z. Its intense action sequencing pits our hero, William Warlock who comes from a lineage of monster hunters but he doesn’t know that yet, against the forces of darkness just after his high school graduation. Thrust into the fray, he is aided by new friend Aarna and the ghost of his grandfather (this gave me serious Karate Kid vibes ya’ll) and we move along embracing commonplace tidbits of movie monster lore and beyond as we encounter the usual list of suspects: vampires, liches, werewolves… you get the idea.
In terms of story, lighthearted and straightforward, Rod Espinosa’s script reveals itself over time to be less about moving from one cartoon battle to the next and slowly morphs into a group focused dynamic reminiscent of Scooby Doo. It’s a bit campy, there’s a super soaker full of holy water used against vampires, but if that’s your cup of tea it never strays from its core and should leave you pleasantly satisfied.
Artist Craig Babia’s linework presents clear manga influences mixed in with the character lightness of Hanna Barbara meets J. Scott Campbell’s Gen 13. It’s light horror, easy and fun on the eyes. The shading work sometimes makes it difficult to separate panel elements as it’s done in monochrome and in dots without heavy black brush work but that’s my only complaint about what is overall a wonderful visual presentation complimented by Doug Dlin’s standout onomatopoeia.
All in all, I Hunt Monster’s is good, exaggerated YA fun wrapped up in a fresh contemporary package. Check it out.
The Dark of the Forest, 51 pages - Published by Freaktown Comics, (cc/ @FreaktownComics)
It all started out so innocently. Seven friends set out on a birdwatching weekend in the middle of the Navarre forest. Little did they know that while they were watching the birds, something else was watching them. Something that wasn’t human. Something very protective of the forest, and willing to kill anyone that gets in its way. Something hungry. Freaktown Comics brings you a desperate tale of survival, humans united against a mysterious and deadly predator in a bloody battle to the death.
Story and Art by Freaktown Comics
Comments from Shane @comicbooksquares:
If you like Friday the 13th, then this is the book for you. From the very first page you can tell what kind of story you’re about to get, and there is nothing wrong with that, as long as you like the genre.
Artist Sergio Calvet has a really interesting style. His characters are all unique and the way he draws heads and bodies is very stylized. I found myself really enjoying the art and his pacing across the panels.
The great thing about a group of teenagers in the woods story is that it immediately feels comfortable. You know what to expect, and you can relax and hope the writer does something interesting with the established norms of this type of story. I’m happy to report that Russell Hillman does not disappoint, he brings something fresh and interesting to this story.
If you like 80’s style horror movies with a twist, this is one you should check out.
Toro D'Oro, 226 pages - Published by Pomps Art, (cc/ @PompsArt)
Action-Comedy about gangs in the near future. Under a repressive rule, the country of Novae Terrae has become a battleground for power. Crime runs rampant in it's lower cities as gangs exchange blows while trying to overcome their opposition. But, everything changed when a virus intended to regulate the population has instead caused the awakening of supernatural powers within a small fraction of it's hosts. These people will become the essential players within the struggle for power.
Story and Art by Pomps Art
Comments from @ArtCrumbs:
A funny and action packed manga that digs deep into the nitty gritty of the crime world of Novae Terrae. Sucked into a world of crime that he didn't want, Ciro does his best to make it work while discovering his new powers. He's a very charismatic character and while the humor can be a little low brow, it's well timed. Overall the comedy is played well into the dynamic pages, great expressions and powerful poses. I've caught up to what's available to read now, and I'm really looking forward to more!
It's got a wonderfully diverse cast of characters from all walks of life and unique personalities. I also LOVE the idea of an acid power that you can manipulate into solid objects? Like that's something I would have never thought of for my own manga! Strong females that aren't just eye candy to look at, a diverse cast of color, lots of different personalities, a stellar cover and a relatable main character. Fantastic Job! I can't wait for the next installment!
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!
Check out more amazing stuff from @Comic Book Squares, @byrononeal and @ArtCrumbs below.
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Byron O'Neal
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