Red Anvil Comics 2015
Written by Joe Martino & Johnny Lowe
Illustrated by Morgan Welborn & Alessandro Borroni
Inked by Jeff Austin
Coloured by Bryan Magnaye
Gina and Angela Tancredi, sisters, have gone on the run from the Cyberines and we open with the girls in a hotel/motel room. Only while Gina was in the shower Angie has gone out and went got breakfast, looks like McDonald’s Egg McMuffins to me. Gina has a reason to be upset after all they ran out with no word on where they were going and Angie is seven feet tall and red so she’s easily identifiable. It doesn’t take long actually for the General and a few of their teammates show up and demand they return.
I like this encounter for a number of reasons but primarily because it gives us a good look at the sisters and what they can do. Now I understand that this is the General trying to bring the girls back but seriously this guy has a massive chip on his shoulder and the kind of arrogance that can easily turn him through a series of circumstances into a complete villain. The people he’s assembled to bring them back don’t look, act or have the power sets to be heroes or individuals used by the government for good purposes, more like the General’s private kill squad.
The action isn’t just wonderfully scripted but the artwork here is rather remarkable as well. I love that this has this classic superhero style look to it. The body proportions and colourful costumes and attention to detail make this a joy to look at. I also like there seems to be a cohesion to the uniforms showcasing that they are indeed a team. The whole issue has wonderful artwork and finally we have a superhero book that isn’t trying to “modernize” them so they look like members of a street gang.
There’s a lot storytelling going on here by Joe and Johnny. This isn’t what you’d expect but it’s something that unfortunately can happen when a man like General Thomas thinks the power he has goes further than what it does. Using his position to fulfill sick desires and to take advantage of people under his command is wrong on so many levels and only goes to strengthen what I felt at the beginning of the story.
We’re getting in on the ground floor here and looking at a group of characters who have been thrown together through circumstance and duty who have to learn to trust one another and work as a unit and it’s going to take time. I like the Captain, team leader and all around decent guy and his talk with the girls was one of those enlightening moments that kind of shatters his world and his trust in General Thomas so how this will play out should be interesting but it does lead me to believe that the General will eventually become and vindictive and proficient adversary of the team, complete with his own squad he’ll take with him.
Aside from the girls John also has to deal with his old friend Billy and the aftermath of last issue’s events. Billy seems to be playing by the rules, taking his meds and allowing himself to be a member of the team so long as it’ll keep him out of jail so it will be interesting to see how this former friendship works on both men and if Billy can become a productive member of the team or will he find a way to bail and return to his old ways.
This is just another reason why Red Anvil is a company that you should all know about. With excellent writing, characters & characterization alongside beautiful interior artwork with it’s dynamic sleek look and colours remind me of the superhero books the mainstream seems to have turned away from.