Action Lab Entertainment 2015
Created & Written by Anthony Ruttgaizer
Illustrated by Danny Zabbal
Coloured & Lettered by Fred C. Stresing
I really am enjoying this series it’s just familiar enough and oddly different so that it’s completely fresh and enjoyable at the same time. I mean Extrahuman’s go crazy and cause all kinds of destruction so there’s a task force headed by the U.S. Government to contain and control them. Jake’s the first one to not go crazy and he’s back home after serving in the army overseas and trying to adjust to life. Now his buddy Coop has brought him in to get him out of a tight spot and his secret is inadvertently revealed, cue all hell to break loose.
Gotta say the way Anthony reveals what’s happening to duncely duo is pretty well done. I love the butt dial aspect and hearing the entire conversation only to rush out to Coop’s aid and find out things are fine and they are playing it off like nothing happened and no secrets were revealed. Friendships never truly die they change, evolve and go sour sure but at the root of it all those memories of happier times stay with you. So does the idea of being able to save a friend from himself not matter how much your brain tries to tell you otherwise.
Jake’s a good man who happens to be an Extrahuman without the side of crazy that comes with it. Cooper is a spoiled little brat who never grew up, learned to take responsibility for himself or his actions and as we see here is completely devoid of moral character. Though he does make a perfect catalyst for the story and for looking at what kind of man Jake is. I mean seriously which one of these seems to be the less stable more likely to explode of the two? Though I do have a feeling where this may be leading and I kind of hope i’m wrong but next issue will tell us that.
Sometimes you just like the bad guys and I for one find these mob wannabe’s to be likeable in a weird way. It doesn’t hurt he keeps calling Coop Richie Rich in a sarcastic manner either. I mean they are making money using Extrahuman’s to beat the crap out of each other and humans who pay for entering the ring and then placing bets. Sure it’s illegal but as far as the public at large is concerned thanks to the Government Extrahuman’s have no rights and are considered a menace to society. Entrepreneurship at its finest.
Oh I like the fight that was inevitable between Odinson and Jake. Danny does an extremely good job on bringing that to life. Also that it wasn’t an easy one either way and it had more than it’s fair share of surprises, twists, ebb and flow to a match made highly entertaining and exciting to watch. Though c’mon men still have chest hair don’t they?
I do like how this issue ends and I can’t wait to see how it all plays out next issue. I have my own hopes and we’ll see if they coincide with Anthony’s or if the natural order of things play out instead.
This gets all the points for originality, solid storytelling and great characterization along with aptly tuned interior visuals. Action Lab is someone that is making a splash in the industry and I can’t wait to see what’s next!