Review: Assassinistas #2

Anything goes. Black Crown Publishing must hypnotize their creators and force them to chant these two words in ritualistic ceremonies because after I read almost anything they publish; my mind is blown. Case in point, Assassinistas #2. This new series, written by Tini Howard with art by Gilbert Hernandez and color by Rob Davis, is an explosive phototropic journey into an era of creativity which I had imagined passed us by twenty-five years ago.

The story is based around Dominic Price, who we find spending time with his boyfriend Taylor, when his mom, Octavia, begins to prepare him to be part of her team to rescue the kidnapped child of one of her former assassin teammates. Dominic, having grown up with a mother who is a former assassin, tries to bring his boyfriend Taylor up to speed on what they are doing, and the two seem to take everything in stride.

The concept of this series is a blast and is well executed. It“s the art however, that took me back in time to a place I“ve not visited in quite some time. I was transported back to the late 80“s and early 90“s, before everyone was on the internet complaining about how things were, not cannon or didn“t mesh with a specific trope. This was a time where anything goes was the norm. In looking at the pages, I“m reminded of late nights, with a bad case of the munchies, sitting in the dark reading comics. I“m transported back to rickety “art cinemas”“ where I would sit in wobbly chairs and watch Mike and Spike“s Sick and Twisted Festival of Animation each year. As I turned each page of this comic, I went deeper and deeper on a journey to find a story I did not even know I was looking for. For me, Assassinistas checked all the boxes I look for in a great comic. Great writing, unique and well executed art, and vibrant colors. Really, when you think of comics, what else is there to look for? (Maybe that“s just me, but I digress)

Assassinistas is a series where comics and pulp cinema tangle and have a love child. The two seem like they were destined to be together and I“m glad they finally were born to be presented to the world. Check out this issue and see if you agree.

[yasr_overall_rating size=”large”]

(W) Tini Howard (A/CA) Gilbert Hernandez

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Bryan Spaulding

In his free time, other than reading comic books, Bryan enjoys listening to his ever growing record collection and driving his 27 year old roadster named Mingo.