Evoluzione Publishing 2016
Written by Julien Kohlman, Guido Martinez, Marcel Dupree & John Griz
Illustrated by Lucas Perdomo, Mauri & Vittorio Garofoli
Coloured by Marco Pagnotta
Lettered by Brant Fowler
Love professional wrestling? Love characters with Superpowers? Love the idea of combining the two for entertainment purposes? Then look no further because Evoluzione Publishing has the book for you. Who says everyone with superpowers has to go into the crime fighting business I mean there’s no money in that after all. So the fine folks at this newest comic company, you can find their offerings at gumroad.com, have brought together fighters from around the globe to battle it out in the arena for you enjoyment.
Actually I have to say it’s a really good idea. That we get to see a new contestant join up, Kasai a young Japanese girl just getting started, and see what it’s like from her viewpoint is a nice way to open the book. The characterization is strong and the characters become believable and enjoyable.
It’s not just about fighting though we do get some really nice action there but there’s a story as well. It would be easy to make this a pure fighting book but as events unfold there’s tension among the ranks and dangers in using powers this way as they so aptly demonstrate. I hate to say it’s surprising but the depth of the story did take me by surprise.
The interiors are what you’d expect them to be as the learning curve of working on a series seems newer to them. However the gaudy costumes are fantastically thought up and the flow of the story is smooth through it’s pages and panels. The action in the ring is done very well and you get that sense of excitement from this kind of all out action.
The second story here is more intense. I like the subterfuge that we see and that those with powers have both jobs or careers that are both legal and illegal. There’s a story behind the breakin we see that looks promising as we watch it unfold. Corporate espionage or for blackmailing purposes is something that’ll have to be revealed but it’s an unexpected delight. Seeing the different powers and how they are used shows some nice originality and creativity and it makes this more interesting to see unfold.
This artwork is much stronger. There’s a great crisp, clean and tightness to the linework that works really well. The use of backgrounds is nicely done and the page layouts and use of colour have a smart effect. This one team that knocked their section way past the ballpark.
The last story seems to be a rebellion of some kind and it sets up this arc in a way that you are left wondering what it’s all about. So you have innate need to come back and find just what’s going on. There’s enough interest factor here to draw you in and make wonder about who these characters and what they are all about.
Evoluzione seems to be giving creators a chance to not only get published but tell the stories they want to tell. Stories that might be considered outside the box or to a target audience. Regardless they do some nice groundwork in getting our attention and establishing a group of new and up and coming talent. Now this is digital but if it were in print i’d be picking up copies i’d love to see this in my hands and especially that second story’s artwork on paper.
Small/self-published has an important role in getting creators seasoned and there’s a lot of great potential here so check em out!