Review: Banjax #1

STORY

Banjax is a superhero story set in as realistic a world as possible for such a fantastical idea. Following in the vein of stories like Watchmen or Kick Ass this deconstruction of the concept of the superhero offers a gritty take on the genre that while no longer shocking or uncommon was still entertaining.

The hero of the tale Banjax narrates for us and so the story is completely from his perspective making it both brutally honest and heavily skewed. The series sets up early on that Banjax is living on borrowed time so I find myself wondering if the narration will be a memoir he leaves behind for the public or if its all just us being privy to his thoughts. If its the latter that will make for a sadder story because of the character’s frequent isolation and the role it played throught his life. The comic takes us through the major points in Banjax’s life from childhood to his present fifty-one years of age. The story reveals how abuse and tragedy shaped his childhood and molded Banjax’s eventual career as a superhero. Success and celebrity are explored and the pitfalls that come with that, as well as cycles of behavior derived from abuse. All of which leads to the eventual and seemingly continual isolation of Banjax.

Given that the story is completely from his perspective Banjanx might not always be a reliable narrator but he does understand the majority of the whys of both his ups and downs. He ends up feeling betrayed by those closest to him as well as envious and even confused by certain acts of altruism on his behalf. Banjax is not a great thinker but he is a hero, a man of courage, a man who in time did not turn away from the plight of others knowing he had the power to do something about it. But he is also no paragon or saint, not a big blue boyscout or the ultimate patriot. He is a flawed man with a great deal of baggage trying desperately to do something positive for others while his own life falls apart around him.

ART

The comic is rendered in a completely cinematic style. Very realistic is a way similar to Bryan Hitch by with at the comic book dynamism. Instead it looks like a series of still frames from Nolan’s Batman film series. It’s dark gritty and static and I believe this is one purpose. This grounds the book visually in the realistic world the script has set up. One could easily see this being recreated shot for shot as a film, its practically a storyboard. Normally this sort of thing would bother me but in this context it works perfectly in the way Alex Ross’s heavy use of photo reference does.

The colors are purposefully dark to fit this grim story but not so dark as to obscure the art or muddy the pages. I had no trouble at all following along as I read the comic. Kudos!

FINAL THOUGHTS

Another modern deconstruction of the idea and ideal of what a superhero is but this one doesn’t add the humor of Kick Ass or the Machiavellian complexity of Watchmen but instead focuses on keep things completely down and dirty and grounded in reality as much as possible. Well worth a look. 5 out of 5 stars!

[yasr_overall_rating size=”large”]

BANJAX #1
Writer:Â Rylend Grant
Art:Â Fabio Alves
Colors:Â Edson Ferreira