SBI Press 2018
On Sale July 25th 2018
Written by A.C. Medina & Mina Elwell
Illustrated by Kit Wallis & Jio Butler
Lettered by Micah Myer
Well I have to give huge thanks to Mina for sending me this and asking me to do an advance review. Building these kind of relationships with creators and the work they do inspires me every day to keep doing what I am doing, so thank you guys very much for trusting me, and those of you who read these.
Cherry, the Devil's prankster granddaughter and the cutest grim reaper in Hell, is honestly just trying to have fun and make new friends. She just keeps getting derailed by the fact that human beings are flammable. She loves everything about Hell - its burning landscapes, its horrific inhabitants, and especially her demonic mother and grandfather - but she's lonely. There's nobody to play with, and anyone who tries ends up defenestrated, digested, or otherwise destroyed. There's only one mortal who Cherry thinks might survive her friendship: rock star and goth icon Briggy Bundy. The bad news is, he isn't dead...Yet. It's Kim Reaper meets Calvin and Hobbes meets Dante's Inferno!
I thought at first I was looking at something styled to match Scottie Young but it’s not and surprisingly at least to me this is something that grew me incredibly quick because while it comes off a this cute little girl that she’s completely not. There is an edge to it and there is a whimsy and humour that is both subtle and bold and if you pay attention you’ll see this little treats. There is something amazing about the contradiction that just captures the imagination of the reader. All the way through they get the interiors to a point where your smiling, giggling and rooting for more of what we’re seeing and that aspect is one of things I love the most.
Cherry is one of the most mischievous and devilish children you’ll ever meet and right off the bat you kind of understand her. Then when we meet her family and the introduction to this world makes you like her even more. It isn’t every day that we meet a character like Cherry who doesn’t just come into our lives and we say aww. No she comes in like wrecking ball and we’re instantly in love with her. A.C. and Mina make this what it is with the structure of the book from start to finish the ebb & flow of the story is beautifully done.
I really like how we see things unfold it feels so natural to me. It feels like a day in the life of Cherry and living where she does and what family she belongs to as thing progress it all comes together in ways you just marvel at. As humorous as they make this there is an underlying darkness too and it doesn’t seem contrived or forced it’s more of a result of the setting they are in which to me makes the perfect sense. The whole composition of the book from start to finish, top to bottom is easier than a spring day with a light breeze.
That everything in this book was as effective as it is is sublime. The way the page layouts are utilised and how we see the angles and perspective is done exceptionally well. The creativity and imagination used to bring every character to life is really something you need see. It really does help you make a connection to Cherry that is off the wall deceivingly all-ages is something that brings this up to a level all it’s own.
I would highly recommend you contact your shoppe and order this for you and for them too because this one the one you don’t want to miss. Small indie/self-published companies are the hottest ticket in town right now. There is a fire and drive not to mention passion about what they are what they put into this and what we see. Usually B-movie horror/comedy is extremely campy but not here and that can do this this way without it feel like that is admirable.
MAY181986 is the order code so please use it!