Review: Burning Rubber #1

A Heist goes wrong when a Motley crew of junkies steal drug money from the Russian mob — money guarded by an outlaw biker.
One-shot from the perspectives of the getaway driver and the outlaw.

Everyone has an activity that stirs memories of their youth. For a lot of men the most integral part of their youth was the car or bike that they drove to that activity. Your driver“s test, your first date, Your first Job, and the car you used to hang out with the boys on the weekends. Interestingly enough, Hannu Kesola’s Burning Rubber #1, delivers a narrative in which those youthful memories can later ensnare us in a self-identification that we are unable to escape that drives the choices we make.Â

The writer on the title, Hannu Kesola, (Draw Blood: A Horror Anthology Night Screams For Mercy; Burning Rubber; Cursed Land #1) does a great job of leveraging relatable situations surrounding familial, and economic circumstances, and then rounding it off with a series of poor life choices are the center of gravity for Burning Rubber #1.

The artist on the title Randy Valiente, is a relatively not yet known, low key yet high level talent that has already turned in quite a library of quality interior art (Return To Wonderland; Grimm Fairy Tales (2007-2016; Army of Darkness Vol. 3; Dream Eater Saga; Elevator; Reanimator).There wasn’t anything that really warranted a splash page or that stood out other than Valiente’s mastery of Perspective.Â Perspective is one of the hardest techniques for most artists to master.Â So to see Valiente jump back and forth in between 1 point, 2 point and 3 point perspectives, without making it overly complicated was good to see. Even his use of the Single point perspective, when objects are vanishing into the distance in only one direction, to exude speed and action are nicely done.Â

Final Verdict: Â In terms of writing and art the quality is pretty good.Â I do disagree with the cover choice and felt like there were interior panels that would have been a better option.Â I like the flow of the story and usage of memories to feel something for the characters, but I feel that this deserves better than a one-shot.

SCORE: 3.0 Stars out of 5

Writer: Hannu Kesola
Artist, Cover: Randy Valiente
Colorist: Lala Nariata
Letterer: Jerome Gagnon
Published by: Actions Labs, Danger Zone