Hero Tomorrow Comics 2018
Written & Lettered by Ted Sikora
Illustrated by Nikolaus Harrison
Coloured by David Baf Gallart & Ted Sikora
Nikki St Clair (aka the Tap Dance Killer) has been assigned a new partner, the murderous clown Punchline! Get a ringside seat as this menacing new villain steps into the squared circle and starts punching tickets on his revenge tour!
So issue two of this series comes out swinging and I have to say I was already looking forward to this one but what these fine folks do here took even me by surprise. They say that every issues should be a just a bit better than the last, usually that’s true as people settle in to a new series and get more of a feel for the characters and hone their crafts be that in the writing or the artwork. However when I started reading this I felt like these folks have worked together for years and this has been an ongoing series for quite some time. To feel as a reader that the creative team has gelled to this point makes for such a strong read.
I really am enjoying the way that this is being structured. Following Nikki around in and out of her outfit as the story becomes more fleshed out is being done so that the more we learn the more we want to know. That level of intrigue is exceptional and it causes the reader to become very invested in what is going on. I like the way the transitions flow as well Ted does a sensational job in moving the story from place to place without feeling like we’re jumping around willy nilly. With Carlotta being in control as she is or at least appears to be it would seem that Nikki and those she is working with have now been made known to her and this is ramping up just what she’s willing to do now.
Last issue we saw Drayton Hayes being kidnapped and then showing up as Punchline at the end and this issue goes what happened in between those moments. I like how we see things go and while yeah I think they might not have needed to kidnap him to convince him to join up. Though it’s a nice touch and shows us how the gang operates but by the time he’s more than willing to be a part of things. The element that this brings to the story is nicely done and not only fleshes out more of this world and the gang but it really it also makes things feel more like a family unit.
I am fan of the interiors here as well as the attention to detail that we see most noticeably in the costumes of the clowns. I mean the way the patchwork and the lines have to be set up to make them more believable and just look right takes a lot of work and to see how it’s done here is pretty damn spectacular. The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective we see in the panels shows off a great eye for storytelling. I love that we see backgrounds that help that help to expand the moment and the world they live in. although to be honest it’s really how see the colours and the outfits that make this what it is.
This is a seriously badass book and it’s got a strong interesting premise and some amazing story & plot development not to mention stellar characterisation and pacing. All this wrapped up in some absolutely fine interior artwork and well you’ve got to put this on your reading list because trust me when I say the future is here.