Comic Book Review: Lucas Stand #1
C.W. Lyons
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Lucas must make a choice – accept a mission from a stranger that will offer him a second chance at redemption, or face something much worse, in [easyazon_link identifier=”B01EBC6PMY” locale=”US” tag=”bounintocomi-20″]Lucas Stand #1[/easyazon_link].
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Lucas Stand is a Marine Corps veteran who, after being wounded while fighting overseas, returns home to a life of chronic pain. The only way he can handle it is through booze and drugs. After failing to hold down a job and inadvertently causing the deaths of a family of four while driving drunk, Lucas decides the only escape from the pain and misery that consumes his life is to end it. Placing a gun in his mouth, Lucas pulls the trigger, only to find himself waking up on the floor of his apartment to the bellowing voice of General Gandrel, U.S. Marine Corps. Gandrel gives Lucas a choice – accept a mission that will give him a chance to wipe the debt off his soul or accept the unidentified (but apparently much worse) alternative. While fighting off a demon that has come to end his mission before it has even begun, Lucas accepts the offer and is transported to Nazi-Occupied Paris in 1945, where his demon-hunting mission begins.
Lucas Stand #1 is created and co-written by Kurt Sutter, creator of the hugely popular show Sons of Anarchy. Along with co-writer Caitlin Kittredge, Sutter’s story is original, unique and wildly entertaining – think Twilight Zone meets Cloak and Dagger. There’s a lot of internal monologue so the reader can really understand Lucas’ state of mind and the dialogue between characters is just plain fun to read. Lucas is a snarky smart-ass and there seems to be no end to his wisecracking quips.
Illustrated by Jesus Hervas, with colors by Adam Metcalf, the artwork is splendid. At times dark and gritty, the art really helps to set the tone and put the reader inside Lucas’ head as he deals with depression and PTSD. Yet there are also times within the book, such as when Lucas and his demon-hunting partner Cyd are walking through the streets of Paris, where the art is crisp and the colors are vibrant. While the artwork does seem a bit rushed and not quite finished in a few panels. Overall, the illustrations and coloring are impressive and significantly assist in the storytelling.
The Verdict
As the first in a six-part miniseries that will ultimately center on the redemption of a lost soul, [easyazon_link identifier=”B01EBC6PMY” locale=”US” tag=”bounintocomi-20″]Lucas Stand #1[/easyazon_link] is a quick and enjoyable read – dark, gritty storytelling at it’s finest, with the artwork to match.
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