Comix Tribe 2016
Created & Written by Ryan K Lindsay
Created & Illustrated by Sami Kivela
Coloured by Mark Dale
Lettered by Nic J Shaw
Summer wants to take off with a bag full of cash and drugs. She wants a new life. When you meet the men currently in her life, you’ll understand why because her soon-to-be-ex-husband is a lush, her current fling is a deadbeat, and the gentle giant with the crush on her is too sad to be believed. But she killed the wrong guy and now the only thing left to do is steer into this skid.
I cannot believe this issue! Oh Hell No was my reaction when I finished it. I mean I have no idea what’s going on but Summer is playing one hell of a dangerous game and she’s certainly getting more than a little reckless. The opening though was some incredible characterization as we see see just how cold this woman is. Oh Summer while we aren’t seeing too much of her motivations, yes we do get some, I’d love to learn what and when it happened that she became this way.
Actually all the characters here are pretty interesting. Their personalities are fleshed out nicely with each appearance. Well maybe not Penny but he’s different he’s just kind of there and while he has a role it doesn’t seem like he’s THAT integral to what’s going on around him. I could be wrong and he could turn into a bigger player in this drama but Summer’s using him in more ways than one and really that seems to be it.
Ah Gus he’s a great example of just how good Summer is at manipulating men. It’s crazy that the sex is that good or she’s that desireable but it’s a small island and she’s a wildcard so it makes sense. Still the way events unfold here were fantastic! So much characterization, seeing personality shine through things and it all just got so intense.
Hannah was a hit or miss character so far she’s a local reporter who has nothing to do on such a small island that she’s a nosy bitch. Yeah she’s got an attitude and i’m surprised no one had killed her yet still there’s something about her. Pretty in an ugly kind of way I’d have thought her needling of Standard might help him get off the sauce long enough to be effective and maybe she’ll still have that effect we’ll see stranger things have happened.
Ah Standard a man caught between love and hate of the same woman. It must have been love on his part to still be here on this Island because of her. While as complicated as can be and obviously there was love between them once and it does give a good reason for his downward spiral shall we call it. He’s one of those characters you feel for and want to see get through all this, put his past behind him and be able to move on. That we get this kind of feeling from reading this means the writing is that good, strong and relatable.
I’m a huge fan of the interiors here too. I mean seeing Summer’s eyes are almost chilling. The attention to detail here is stunning and it just makes me happy to see this level of talent and passion for what he does. Sami’s eye for storytelling is really quite good too, the way the story flows throughout the pages and panels and the focus on certain moments can be distracting or emphatic on what’s going on.
Comix Tribe may be small but they have some incredible books out there. This is a perfect example why you need to be paying attention to small press companies. So come on board for one heck of ride with plenty of twists, turns and definitely NO damsel in distress.