Why I Love... Z-Blade XX!
Welcome to another edition of the Why I Love column, where I, Eric Ratcliffe, pick something I've read, played, listened to or watched to discuss with you fair readers. This week we have a very special new indie book for you in Z-Blade XX! This is a beautiful series co-created by friend, Guy Lemay (I know him through Jason Burns who did the awesome comic Rabid with Guy) and his co creator Reed Greenfield. It's published through Atomic Basement and issue #1 is available for $3.99.
Now, the first thing I have to commend the team for is the actual content of the book. It's a 4 dollar book that's actually packed. There are no ads and even actual backmatter, which I personally have always loved about comics. All 32 pages of the book are full comic story pages that actually feel like you've read a full story and are satisfied with. I know with my copy I got two very cool buttons from Guy that was also a very cool treat.
Artwise this thing is beautiful. Guy's style reminds me of a mix between Michael Oeming and Jim Mahfood while still being able to keep a sense of originality to his art. Guy also apparently letters and colors the book himself, which I'd say is pretty impressive.
The story follows a man named Ryan who got his powers from being abducted by a bunch of weird aliens. I really love how they were able to pack in the origin, a few actions scenes and the first real villain he faces. It's all done really well. From Ryan stopping a bank robbery to his best friend designing a cool new way for him to wear his costume, it's all packed in nicely.
To me it felt a little Powers like, just without the cop angle. Our lead character Ryan aka Z-blade XX is obviously dealing with a lot throughout the book, though most of it's only hinted at. I like his attitude as well as it's uniquely human and not something we get a lot in superhero books as of late.
Then there's the villain named Insomniac who is pretty damn creepy if you ask me. He's a great foil to Z-blade and actually presents a pretty big threat to him. He's an interesting almost Joker like character who while crazy has a strange sense of rationality to him and it sends chills down your spine reading him as something is obviously up with him.
I also like the fact that there may be multiple armors viewed throughout the series. The only negative is that it's going to be a bi-monthly book for the most part. Though it will be worth it as the creative team has promised an issue full of 32 pages of content every issue no matter what and I really want to see the armor that was actually built.
So at the end of the day this is a definite buy. Check out the website for more information and definitely keep up with this book as they really have something special here.
I know this was a short one, readers, but I am heavily at work on the year ender column and the Why I Love Comics Awards are coming for the second year in a row very soon. See you here next week!
Eric Ratcliffe is a young writer/pop culture journalist/interviewer currently working on pitching a project named the Hunter chronicles. When not reading his weekly stack Eric can be found watching DVDs, playing on his 360 (gamertag: Zack Hunter) or just surfing online trying to find a scoop or two. Brand new to the Comic Related family, Eric is a fun new voice. Eric shops at TJ's Collectibles. Visit them on the web at www.tjcollect.com!
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