WGTB reviews Dragonstorm #1

After having read and reviewed Stormchasers #4 by UnstoppableComics last month, I decided to follow-up with the publisher and get another comic. Why not right? I liked it last time and I've been doing my best think outside the Big Two box lately and read stories I might otherwise not come across. What I got was one of Unstoppable's latest offerings, a book called Dragonstorm #1 which did not disappoint. 

Unstoppable Comics' Dragonstorm #1 (April 2012) created, written and lettered by Jaydee Rosario with cover by Pat O'Donnell and pages 1-9 interior art by Joel Cotegar (inks by Alex Riveera) and pages 10-22 by Craig Shepard (inks by Michael Summers). 

First off, the name 'Dragonstorm' and the cover caught my attention right away. Having lived in Japan, I'm always willing to give anything that even remotely references the great ancient cultures of Asia the benefit of the doubt. But as I was reading the book and learning about the namesake hero, I soon realised Unstoppable was trying to pull a fast one. The true protagonist of this story is not Dragonstorm, but actually a teen-aged girl named Lyllian and this really sparked my interest. Indeed, much of the story is all about how Lyllian and Dragonstorm came to meet each other and how this sets us up for what could be an interesting dynamic for the rest of the series.

Lyllian and Dragonstorm from Unstoppable Comics Dragonstorm #1 (April 2012) Dragonstorm himself resembles a cross between Nightwing and (Marvel's) Captain Marvel.

You see (and I'm trying to be careful not to give things away here) Lyllian's mother and father are now out of the picture (euphemism!) and her own grandfather has forced Dragonstorm to train her for a task that has yet to be revealed. However, it is also made very clear to us that Dragonstorm is not the Grandfather's friend and Grandpa in this case is not a jujube dispensing nice guy (like mine is!) but rather the enemy and chief antagonist of the series. Okay, I’ve probably already given too much away, but this overall premise, while being somewhat similar to other stories, is never-the-less different in that it focuses on a female lead, which even in today's market is something irregular.* Suffice it to say, it will be interesting to see how this male/female -- guardian/ward relationship develops and could be a refreshing change for comic fans. 

While a common trope in comics, Dragonstorm is aiming to introduce the Guardian/Ward dynamic within the context of a male/female relationship. Risky perhaps, but could this also be in interesting innovation? Image of Bruce Wayne and Tim Drake from DC's Batman #654 (June 2006).

Moving on to the art, these responsibilities were divided with the first half of the book done by Joel Cotejar and the latter by Craig Shepard. Both artists did a good job and the panels, while more Image Comics mainstream than Big Two mainstream (take from that statement whatever you'd like), never-the-less complement and amplify the story. With regard to their portrayal of the Dragonstorm himself, I think he has some cool powers, including a wing-shaped force-field, and I look forward to learning how he came about as well as how he develops and changes over time.

Dragonstorm's 'wings' in Dragonstorm #1, April 2012

Grandpa's quite the baddie in Dragonstorm #1, April 2012

So there you go. Somewhat brief thoughts on the latest from the Unstoppable Comics stable. If you can get your hands on a copy of Dragonstorm give it a shot -- it's always good for us readers to look beyond the Big Two to see what the newer guys are doing. I've linked to their company's website above if you're looking to track down a copy and please let me know what you think about the book in the comment section below. 

*NB: I'll probably be stepping away from the blog for the next little bit (I have other scholastic commitments) but once again thanks for reading WGTB and please feel free to leave any comment about the blog. I'm still relatively new at this and always looking to improve. Also, if you're looking for a great conversation about the issue of female super-hero leads check out the most recent conversation between Kelly Sue DeConnick and John Siuntres at the Word Balloon podcast. It's very good.

WGTB reviews Stormchasers #4

It’s a truism to say both new technology and social media is changing the comics industry. The average fan now has access to much more news and product than ever before, and because of this it's quite normal to come across comics and creators that only five years ago might never have been noticed. One such example of this phenomenon happened recently when my Twitter account (@markjstewart) suggested I follow Unstoppable Comics (@Unstoppablecomics) a small publisher based in New York City. 

Cover of Stormchasers #4 (March 2012) by Unstoppable Comics. Story by Jay Rosairo, Art by Beni Olea, Alex River on the inks and Michael Summers as colourist.

After 'following' and searching their website, I discovered an energetic and audacious new publisher that's working to compete against the Big Two at their own game: superhero comics. As I’m always looking for new comics to read and enjoy, I contacted publisher and writer Jay Rosario to see what Unstoppable is all about. Rosario was helpful and suggested the latest edition of their flagship book, Stormchasers #4.

Unstoppable's angle, while not entirely original, is a good one. The Stormchasers are a collection of international heroes doing battle against villains who also hail from around the world, and they bring an international perspective to their stories and conflicts. As I said, not entirely original -- we've seen this from mainline books such as X-Men and Justice League -- but in an industry where the two major American companies have such a dominant presence, it was great to see smaller publishers take a global perspective and give international markets a shot too. Whether this works for Unstoppable Comics remains to be seen, but as I Canadian living in the UK, I like the attitude and can see a time when Stormchasers is on the shelves beside Batman or Captain Britain in my London shop.  

Jets and super-powers from Unstoppable's Stormchasers #4 (March 2012)

Stormchasers #4 itself is an enjoyable book. The artwork has a Big Two feel to it, while at the same time remains fresh and indie enough to be a welcome break from Marvel or DC. Of course, in these matters a balance needed to be struck -- if they want to play in the sandbox with Disney and Warner Brothers, Unstoppable needs to walk the line between consumers wanting something expected and wanting something new. I think they did this, and I can see books from this publisher being picked up by regular readers of DC, Marvel, IDW et al. The heroes and villains were memorable and edgy and there's enough of a 'coolness' factor to hold the reader's attention with a comic they might not be familiar with.   

The cool Japanese-born character on display in Stormchasers #4 (March 2012) by Unstoppable Comics.

Which brings me to my constructive criticism. At times the book needed more narrative guidance with regard to the storytelling. Past issues are available for download on the iPad, so this is something that could be remedied with a couple clicks, but as I suspect a large number of new readers will buy this book from a ‘brick and mortar’ store, it is important that new readers who don’t have background knowledge about the book be given as much as possible. This includes recap pages or more liberal use of captions or thought balloons which I didn't see here. As an example, I would point to the recent Superman #6 (George Perez) which used captions to assist a very complex story. I understand they can muddle a page, but ultimately comics is about good storytelling and that's where the emphasis should be.

The Rogues Gallery from Stormchasers #4 (March 2012)

That said, if you’re looking for some cool superhero comics from a new independent publisher, I encourage you to visit the Unstoppable Comics website and give their books a look.* They're available online, but also increasingly available in stores across the East Coast of the United States. The art is mainline enough hold a superhero yarn, yet indie enough to appeal to someone who wants a break from the normal.  

Stormchasers #4 is available online and in select American comic shops now. Price: $2.99 (US)

*If you would like to suggest a comic from a new or independent publisher than please leave a comment below. I am always looking for new titles to read and review.