Review: Redfork TPB

With so much content getting shipped from a range of publishers it is easy to miss out on some really interesting reads. Redfork from TKO Studios could very well be one of those books.

One night, several years ago, Noah and his brother Cody decide to break into the local dentists on the search for some pills. During the “job” Cody shoots the dentist. Noah takes the fall, leaving his pregnant girlfriend alone in Redfork. Now recently released, Noah returns to his hometown to discover that there are a couple of greater evils vying for the life and souls of a townsfolk already on the slippery slope to hell!

I am a big fan of writer Alex Paknadel. Looking at his body of work which includes Friendo, Giga and with Marvel on both the Empyre event and some Hulk stuff to boot. Paknadel may be making inroads to the superhero world of spandex and tie-ins, but I think that his heart lies firmly in indie and clever twists on horror tropes. Redfork therefore fits that bill perfectly. In Noah, Paknadel has created a broken hero who has made choices to help his brother regardless of the cost. There are socio-political elements in play with a Lex Luthor type using a big company to “help” Redfork. All that coalesces to deliver a tense town, where agendas are hidden but pain is worn like a wound. What better place then for a supernatural entity to mine the townsfolk’s illness and addictions for its own gain? The dialogue is terse without going over the top; Noah comes across well, taking all the flak for a crime that his brother actually committed. Never once once does he sway from his own sense of value.

Nil Vendrell displays an art style that totally took me by surprise, especially as the last book I saw of his was Shirtless Bear-Fighter! Where Shirtless was a funny book, with caricature style cartooning, here Vendrell delivers a mature art that could grace and Vertigo or Mature Reader book. Poses and body lines are well crafted, each telling their story in line wit the the life they lead. Vendrell can go from dark despair to elegant splendour in a heartbeat. The horror elements are well served in both gory and fascination elements. The emotions of the characters and the book is due in large part to the excellent colors by Giulia Brusco who manages to drip every drop of angst colored ink into a book that carries so much weight. Brighter parts are interposed in places, but those act as a subversion expectation. Finally, letters are supplied by Ryan Ferrier with a font that feels a tad lightweight in comparison to the book as a whole, but in truth it is what is required to give the book an easier visual.

If I am honest, I think that Alex Pakndel can pretty much do no wrong. Every book takes and idea, teases it around and delivers something quite different. With Vendrell moving into a more mature style; the pair have created another hit for TKO Studios adding to Paknadel’s already impressive resumé.

Writing – 5 Stars
Art – 5 Stars
Colors – 5 Stars

Overall – 5 Stars

Written by; Alex Paknadel
Art by; Nil Vendrell
Colors by; Giulia Brusco
Letter by; Ryan Ferrier
Published by; TKO Studios

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