Advance Review: The Paybacks #1

Written by Donny Cates and Eliot Rahal
Art by Geoff Shaw
Colors by Lauren Affe
Published by Dark Horse Comics, Inc.

With great power, comes”¦financial responsibility? You bet it does.

Let’s face it folks…no matter how noble the intention or how righteous the cause, being a superhero who makes a positive difference in the world comes at a steep price. Not every would-be hero is born with a silver spoon in their mouth or inherits several sizable bank accounts that are infinitely funded by the family’s global enterprise. Not every would-be hero is fortunate enough to stumble across the remnants of superior technological devices that once belonged to an advanced alien civilization that visited Earth countless millennia ago. Someone who desperately wants to fight crime simply can’t afford to wait around for that one magical day where an unexplained chemical reaction grants them superhuman abilities beyond their wildest dreams.

What is a would-be superhero ever supposed to do? Answer: Get approved for a loan.

With ample finances provided up front by the mysterious Mr. Pierce, the path towards becoming a legendary hero is made possible. Purchasing the right tools for the trade is suddenly made a whole lot easier. There’s just one catch with this investment. If the recipient of the loan falls behind on their payments or simply fails to pay, that hero could then expect a visit from Mr. Pierce’s super-repo team, The Paybacks. The Paybacks are an assortment of misfit superhumans that will go above and beyond to collect on any outstanding debts.

Donny Cates and Eliot Rahal excelled at presenting a vibrant satirical script of the superhero genre that simply belongs in a class of its own. Geoff Shaw’s artwork was instrumental in ensuring that each of the characters could be taken both seriously and funny, especially when the dialogue called for it. The viewpoint for the reader and character placement throughout most of the panels in this issue were impressive; however, it would appear at times that the background art seemed unfinished, while in other panels it was mostly detailed and/or completed. Lauren Affe’s coloring job throughout the issue was superb. The well-balanced tone certainly amplified each of the panels.

Overall, the pleasant mix of subtle and obvious humor played extremely well within the story, especially when dealing the silent enemy of most superheroes ”“ lack of funds.

The first issue of The Paybacks is expected to hit the stands on September, 16^th! Don’t be late!

Until next time Crusaders!

[yasr_overall_rating size=”large”]

Author Profile

13th Crusader

Real Name: Mike / Occupation: (As Mike) Classified; (as The 13th Crusader) Host of The Definitive Crusade, DC Podcast, for Undercover Capes / Known Aliases: 13, The Iron Mike, Ironhide, The Walking Human Encyclopedia, Professor M / Affiliations: Comic Crusaders / Base of Operations: The 13th Lair (location classified), often mobile / Abilities: Photographic memory (to the extent where he is capable of memorizing the comic book inventories of several stores simultaneously for lengthy periods of time), voice impersonation, acute senses (The 13th Crusader possesses an uncanny ability to track down vintage comic books, and on several occasions, with his eyes closed, he has been able to determine the exact year a comic book was published just by smelling the ink inside of it), capable of drawing sketches; however, he prefers to write. He has a substantial amount of resistance to alcohol, surpassing the levels displayed by Marvelâ€™s Volstagg and Valiantâ€™s Aram Anni-Padda â€“ combined. Multilingual (Proficient with English and Spanish, adequate with Portuguese and Italian). Above average marksman (he is capable of throwing objects accurately at high velocities), limited sword fighting skills and kickboxing techniques. / Known Weaknesses: Anything that involves the original Gwen Stacy, 2 for 1 drinks during Happy Hour, 50 cent comic book bins, the scent of 1983 comic book ink / Hobbies: Vintage comic book collecting, baseball, listening to excessive amounts of 80â€™s music / History: Little is known of The 13th Crusader. He is a man of many talents who was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. He has extensive knowledge of the comic book world and heâ€™s been collecting comic books since before he was able to read. Heâ€™s a BIG time fan of Silver and Bronze Age comics, and as such, his personal collection is truly impressive. He owns books that range from the 1950â€™s and onward. First Appearance: Comic Crusaders Column â€“ What Defines A Characters First Appearance (Feb 2014)