Advance Review: Project Riese #1 (of 6)

Comic books, like comedy, rely on acts of serendipity or great timing. Take this new book from Mad Cave Studios, Project Riese, as an example. When better to release an Indiana Jones type of book than on the eve of the latest, and last Harrison Ford, Indy movie? Raiders of the Opportune moment for sure! Still, with mixed reviews abound, this mini series may have to “rise” under its own power.

Sam Safdie is the leader of a ragtag bunch of treasure hunters; think Doc Savage’s team and you are in the ball park. Having finally found the fable map of the Well of Souls….sorry of Owl Mountain, the team are on the trial of Nazi gold. But as the group traverse the war maze, the horrors of the past have developed a life of their own and some secrets are better left to the dead!

Zac Thompson has been on my radar for some time now, having successfully both transitioning and maintaining an indie book and mainstream presence. Thompson delves into Raiders and Doc Savage territory with a cast of characters that you may have seen in other books /media. There is nothing wrong with that of course, every writer has influences on show. Thompson’s writing is fun, with banter filled exchanges driving the characters interaction. The bad guy is wonderfully camp in a kind of evil Tim Curry kind of way. Considering Thompson’s past work, this could be seen as a change of pace, though with the expected horror element hinted at normal service may well resume.

Jeff McComsey provides the art with a style that could be seen as cartoony in places. This suits the caricature nature of the villain of the piece and mirrors the already mentioned references; all that is missing at times is a fedora, OB- CPO on the plane and snakes! McComsey’s art is fun throughout, pacy in places with the minor comedy elements working. It will be interesting to see how the art will work when the advertised horror comes to town. Adding to the contradictions of style over story are the colors from Paul Little who uses a darker scheme then you may expect given the overarching recognisable elements. That darkness is only going to grow. Justin Birch has the unenviable task of keeping the dialogue light, no mean feat considering the exposition that needs to be covered. Birch ensures that none of the font work impedes the art or the pace of the book.

Mad Cave Studios deliver an interesting range of books that I have a lot of time for, from a group of creators with produce high quality storytelling. Project Riese is yet another high quality series from a quality publisher of independent comic books.

Writing – 5 Stars
Art – 4 Stars
Colors – 4.5 Stars

Overall – 4.5 Stars

Written by; Zac Thompson
Art by; Jeff McComsey
Colors by; Paul Little
Letters by; Justin Birch
Published by; Mad Cave Studios

Project Riese is due in shops August 2nd, 2023, Diamond Order Code UN231944

Author Profile

Johnny "The Machine" Hughes

I am a long time comic book fan, being first introduced to Batman in the mid to late 70's. This led to a appreciation of classic artists like Neal Adams and Jim Aparo. Moving through the decades that followed, I have a working knowledge of a huge raft of characters with a fondness for old school characters like JSA and The Shadow

Currently reading a slew of Bat Books, enjoying a mini Marvel revival, and the host of The Definative Crusade and Outside the Panels whilst also appearing on No-Prize Podcast on the Undercover Capes Podcast Network