Savage Avengers #1
David Pepose words
Carlos Magno art
Espen Grundetjern colors
VC’s Travis Lanham letters
From Marvel Comics
Have you found yourself forsaken by god and chased by a way-too-deadly robot? Make sure it’s not behind you and peep the solicit:
Since his exile from the Hyborian Age, Conan the Barbarian has conquered the most dangerous foes the modern Marvel Universe has to offer - but what happens when this hard-edged Cimmerian finds himself on the run from the cybernetic soldier of the future known as Deathlok? Outgunned and outmatched, Conan must turn to an unlikely group of loners, berserkers, and killers if he hopes to survive the night - but can these Savage Avengers defy Deathlok's murderous manhunt, or will they become the next targets in the crosshairs of tomorrow?
David Pepose has had a helluva couple of years in the comic book world. He slaughtered two Kickstarter campaigns with The O.Z. He elevated the AfterShock name with Scouts Honor. Somehow, he found time to script a couple shorts for some big anthologies. Most recently, and the reason I’m writing all these words, he’s started a, what I’m hoping to be, long and fulfilling career at Marvel. And you know what?
He deserves it.
In an interview, I once described David’s scripting magic as ‘The Pepose Charm.’ Fans of his know that there is just something special between the covers of every project he writes. There is a lot of heart. All his characters are expressive. I was excited to see what he could do with characters he didn’t create. I was wondering if that Pepose Charm would still sing across the panels, and folks, it does more than sing.
It screams and drags you by the ankles into the darkness Cloak harnesses. It flings you through time via Deathlock technology. It fills you with the hope of Dagger’s living light and glides you, silently, over the rooftops with a devil’s grace. Its edges are sharp like Hyborian steel, and it whispers in your ear like a Knight’s cursed weapon. Symbiotically, it fixes itself over your skin. It makes roots deep within your genetic markup and changes you.
Even as a premier issue to a new team book, Pepose is able to structure these introductory scenes with tension so high you could drown in it. These quick bits give you enough juice to understand the deeper elements to these characters, and, in the end, when they’re all thrown into the pot together, the team mechanics begin to flourish.
Pepose has a comic that will get you pumped to see how these all-new Savage Avengers will work together. He’s able to pen the team mentality to perfection. He’s also got a great grasp on all of these characters, and I’m beyond stoked to see the spotlight shift as this series continues. He’s always been great at highlighting the urges and emotional strengths of his characters, and I have no doubts he’ll be doing the exact same thing within the Marvel sandbox. However, with all his strengths, David Pepose can’t reign at Marvel alone. Luckily, he’s got an incredible creative team working in tandem with his wild imagination.
Carlos Magno is really good. Like, holy hot damn, good. Like, my eyeballs needed a cigarette and a sandwich after taking down those twenty-something pages kind of good. Every scene pops, and each character shines. Magno has the high action down, but he’s also able to zoom in and produce a lot of emotion and body language. The interactions between Cloak and Dagger are a great showcase for that kind of emotive talent.
Espen Grundetjern takes that epic Magno art and makes it even better with a divine layer of colors that helps the action glide from panel to panel. These pages feel alive. They move and breathe, lunge and yell. Grundetjern’s palette has a bit of magic within it, and that magic brings a fierceness to every single page.
VC’s Travis Lanham comes with the thunder to complete this all-star package with delightfully precise lettering. THOOMs and FWAAKTs look great on the page. Dialog is never obtrusive, and the lofty, poetic exposition boxes are always expertly placed.
Basically, these pages are so hot they just might char your fingertips.
If this isn’t on your pull lists, it should be, and if you didn’t snag it last week, it’s going back to print! I honestly can’t wait to see the zany shenanigans these eccentric heroes get into. Blake’s Buzz gives Savage Avengers #1 five out of five HELL YEAHS.
I’m in for the long haul, baybee.
Blake’s Buzz Episode #37 is out. Nick Pitarra drops by to talk about all things Ax-Wielder Jon and the benefits of being on Zoop. We also talked a little about Manhattan Projects and what it’s like working with everyone’s favorite writer! Make sure to check it out.
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As someone familiar with all of these characters but never actually have read any of them I thought this book did a great job of setup. 88% of the book was action, and I got what I needed out of that other 12% for context.
I hope the second issue doesn't try to big it down with details and "weight." Just keep it light,fun, action driven, and intense.
The interview with Nick was awesome as well. Loved that interview.
Dude was confident in his capability and it sounds like it is paying off for him. Glad to hear Zoop is doing better than the name hahahaha
I'm definitely stealing that "my eyes needed a cigarette..." line.