Review: Tap Dance Killer #1

Synopsis:

Here’s an exciting title! Our protagonist is Nikki St. Clair who left Cleveland with aspirations of stardom on the bright lights of Broadway. However she winds up in jail and ticking off the mob. How could things have gone so wrong? We learn that Nikki was cast in a horror musical called Nothing Like Vaudeville as the character of Star Assassin. The show got terrible reviews. But how did that get her in bad with organized crime?

The Creative Team

Ted Sikora gives us an action packed opening in which Nikki and two of her co-hort thespians kidnap Antoine Brunetti, The consigliere for the infamous Romero mob. He is killed and left on display as they await a new crime family to take over. However, the Romero’s retaliate as business gets real for our hapless trio. The set up keeps you guessing. Sikora paces his story so as not to let out to much detail in the beginning it’s a true page turner as he brings us closer to Nikki’s plight. What is the right thing to do here? Nikki is backed into a corner. Should she turn herself in? Is Nikki in too deep Can she get back on the right path and fulfil her dreams? Great Stuff includes How Nikki got away from police and how Nikki learns to get along behind bars.

Nikolaus Harrison brings it home with his take on these unique characters. The cops are like square jawed superhero’s and the prisoners are tough as nails. Nikki certainly seems out of place in this environment and Harrison has us rooting for her as she fits in neither mold. She’s more of an anti-hero, neither protagonist nor antagonist. These illustrations are top notch and alone are worth the price of the comic. Highlights include the requisite female inmate brawl and the first appearance of Punchline.

In Conclusion:

The world is not an easy place. Especially when you’re trying to climb out of the bad side of town. Our anti-hero seems to be thrust into one bad situation after the next and she doesn’t always make the right decisions. How many of us ever do. It is never quite clear why Nikki and her friends kill Brunetti, but we are witness to the detrimental consequences of their decision. I’m sure the next issue will tie up the loose ends. It’s an unholy mob war that our protagonist must win. In the meantime this comic is brutal, honest and grabs us by the throat. A definite must read for fans of Prison films (and comics.) **** (9.3 rating)

Writer – Ted Sikora
Art – Nikolaus Harrison
Letters – Ted Sikora
Colors – David Baf Galart, Ted Sikora
Publisher – Hero Tomorrow Comics

Author Profile

Kevin Given

Kevin Given has studied with â€œ Longridge Writers Group â€ and â€œ Writerâ€™s Boot Camp â€ a speech/communications major from the University of Maine Presque-Isle/Orono sites. He has created the â€œ Karl Vincent Vampire Hunter â€ franchise which includes novels and comic books. They can be found on amazon, Indyplanet and Kindle. For a limited time you can get digital copies of â€œ Karl Vincent: Vampire hunter â€ # 1 and â€œ Files of Karl Vincent â€ # 1 for free on Indyplanet. Kevin is producing the third novel in the series â€œ Dracula Rising â€ (working title) and developing â€œ Foul Blood â€ into comic book form. Don't forget to check out the YouTube show " Comics: Let's Talk " hosted by Kevin Given