Review: Blowback

One of the things that I love about comics is the sheer fact that there are no boundaries. If you can imagine it; if you can write it then you can get create it. Step up Blowback, a kind of Time Bandits / Quantum Leap mash up that sees a present day Marine squad find themselves in 1776, along with a World War Two destroyer with the idea of trying to keep history right.

This marine group has a touch of the Clone Wars clones about them. Each of them have their own personality and traits that you may have seen in different movies. It’s a fun group, that has its share of friction. When the group hit the 1700’s these differences will have impacts. With the introduction of the battleship, things get really complicated; who are the good guys, what is the right thing to do and can you sacrifice the now for the sake of a future?

Writers and co-creators James Hereth and Rhonda Smiley have taken different aspects of from different genres and mediums and wielded them together, almost seamlessly. You have the aforementioned Time Bandits, you also have the marines from war movies and the morality of Quantum Leap and Star Trek. It’s a heady mix; the pair weave the various threads into a story that has action, nuance and characters. The writing has to get the reader to buy into the characters so that the risks and dangers that they face have impact. In a way, this is hardest part of writing a non multi-media book or character; its a subtle grab and smash. The dialogue works well in this regard.

The art is provided by comic veteran Kev Hopgood, the co-creator of War Machine. Here the art is a little less Marvel and definitely more indie. There is a lot of detail abound which helps with the feel of the book. Hopgood also provides the letters, which again helps with the construction of the panels and pages, especially as the book does get wordy in places. For me, there a few perspectives issues that distract the eye. The historical elements are well covered and then mash-up equally as effectively. Finally, colorist Charlie Kirchoff delivers a scheme that looks a tad too digital, which can be a problem for a lot of indie and small press books. Maybe I am being harsh; there are elements of the colors that really work, the first act in particular.

The book is a fun little escapade that allows the various elements of the book to breathe which gives the book a grand feel, if not epic in places.

Writing – 4 Stars
Art – 3 Stars
Colors – 3 Stars

Overall – 3 Stars

Written by; James Hereth & Rhonda Smiley
Art & Letters by; Kev Hopgood
Colors by; Charlie Kirchoff

https://www.blowbackuniverse.com/

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