Review: Buckhead #1

Story Thus far:

An archeological team in Benin, Nigeria uncovers a catacomb most likely built during the Scramble for Africa. At first the team figures it to be a last remnant of the Edo Empire, but things take a turn, when they uncover a mysterious orb.

7 years after the dig, BuckHead #1, follows the story of Toba, a black teenager of Nigerian descent and child of two of the archeologists. Toba, along with his mother, has recently moved to a Buckhead, Washington. Everything is new to Toba. New School, new friends, new neighborhood. Even though its normal for new things to seem strange, things in Buckhead are stranger than normal.

Script:

Shobo, the author of Buckhead had a tough task. To introduce, a mythology that is outside the peripheral of the average comic book reader, as well as introduce a new character and his own world in which he will operate.

Most fail, but I think he did a pretty good job of slightly touching on it without drowning the reader right away. basic tenets of time travel. The dialogue is going to be a flip of the coin, because either the reader is going to enjoy reading about a teenager or if you’re familiar with the culture you will be annoyed with the way he talks to his mother, and teachers. Or the way trespassing and breaking and entering doesn’t seem to be a big deal for him.

Art:

The art by GEORGE KAMBADAIS, NATALIA NESTERENKO, lettering by JIM CAMPBELL. There were times when I felt like I was reading about Miles Morales, which is not bad, it’s just too safe. I think Toba could benefit from a design a little more unique and relating to his ancestry. I would like to see if in future if the African costume designs improve, as they were kind of 8-bit here.

Covers:

Buckhead #1 has 4 covers: CVR A by George Kambadais; CVR B bySimangaliso Sibaya VIDEO GAME HOMAGE; and Cover C FOC Reveal by Khoi Pham ; CVR D by FOC REVEAL 25 COPY INCV VAR PHAM. This is where things went south for the book. The cover B is superior to Cover D, and Cover D has the same art as cover C. So why is it a higher ratio than B. Please someone make it make sense!

SCORE: 3 out 5 stars

WRITER SHOBO

Artist(s): GEORGE KAMBADAIS

Colorist(s): NATALIA NESTERENKO

Letterer: JIM CAMPBELL

GENRE: Teen, Fantasy, African Mythology, Science Fiction