Did Somebody Call For a Hero
A Review by Ron Fortier
An Illustrated Novel
Written by Chad Strohl
Art by Armondo Abeleda
A Review for Comic Related
By Ron Fortier
For as long as I can remember, inventive creators have been trying to find ways to merge the graphic format of story-telling with that of the more traditional prose style. There have been a few notable experiments, but none have ever really taken hold with the public. Now comes this really well done, new approach to that inter-weaving by writer Chad Strohl and artist Armondo Abeleda.
What Strohl does is write the story straight out, as if it were just another short story you would find in any literary magazine published today. Then, he set aside specific scenes to have Abeleda illustrate as mini-strips, with two, or three, or four panels. Now you would think this would be disruptive to the flow of the narrative, but it truly is not. Rather the art strips blend in perfectly with prose and I found myself enjoying the experience a great deal.
Plot-wise, the story revolves around a young man named Benjamin Montgomery whose is an only child and was raised by his mother alone. Supposedly his father died when he was a small child and he has few recollections of the man. Now Strohl moves his story from Benjamin's past, to the present, where he is now a public hero (his nickname too) and on a personal mission to rescue a group of western journalist from Arab terrorist in the Middle East. As we follow Hero through the pulp like action/adventure, we also get to learn about his past and what made him the battling crusader he has become.
Is his father really dead? Or was their a secret his mother hid from him, afraid he would follow in the "old man's" steps? DID SOMEBODY CALL FOR A HERO, is a terrific read and a truly marvelous blend of comics and prose fiction. Strohl is a gifted writer and his style if very fresh and clean, easy to follow and appreciated. I'm giving this odd little book a huge thumbs up!! If you like new, original story-telling, you will love this book.
Lets Take A Look Inside Book #2
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Reviewer Bio
Ron Fortier
(ron@comicrelated.com) / Writer, Creator and Imagineer
Ron Fortier has been a professional writer for over 25 years working on comic book projects such as The Hulk, Popeye, Rambo and Peter Pan, his two most popular comic series being The Green Hornet and The Terminator (with Alex Ross). With Ardath Mayhar he's penned two TSR fantasy novels, and in 2001 he had his first play produced. Ron is a constant supporter of the site, writes for it from time to time and shepards our forums. Learn more about Ron at Airship27.
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