In a move that shook the comic book world, Image signed “Free Agents” to an ongoing deal.
It features the wordsmithing capabilities of Eisner Award winner Kurt Busiek (Astro City, Darkman, Avengers) and veteran bestseller Fabian Nicieza (Deadpool, Nomad, Cable), the artistic temperament of Stephen Mooney (Half Past Danger), and the color scheming of Triona Farrell (Harley Quinn, Detective Comics).
Last but not least, Tyler Smith from Comicraft trails in the rear with lettering.
Even with no news yet on whatever restrictions are in the contract, or salary demands, readers dashed to their local comic stores this Wednesday and devoured every copy of their 40-page major league debut in record time: To the point where it required a visit to four different shops to find one before having to wait for a 2nd print.
Without further ado, let’s meet the team.
Calling themselves “Free Agents”, they are a group of seven youthful combat vets from another dimension (Katari, Maraud, Chalice, Ridge, Pike, Shakti, and leader Salvo), each with unique abilities.
They arrive on Earth after a terrible but victorious battle mentioned as the book progresses, and the reader sees them getting into another battle with a giant robot dubbed KONQUR UNIT in broad daylight.
This unwanted attention adds to the stress of acclimating to a new dimensional plane and dealing with the trauma of their violent pasts, a past that seems to be coming back to haunt them, slowly but surely.
Even though it is almost double the length of a regular issue, the book is loaded with information that’s disbursed in an interesting manner. Each one leaves more questions than answers (much like with my fictional counterparts in the story), and the demand for more with each revelation.
And it’s all without filling a panel full of word bubbles and covering up the art. Speaking of…
As much as I dug the story, the artwork steals the show. It’s clear, crisp, and has a total old-school vibe (especially with the action scenes).
Not once does the reader have to ask where all the character’s limbs are (or their organs for that matter), or why there’s a bathtub in front of a door. There is nothing but professionalism and cool-looking characters.
I am looking forward to seeing what’s in store for the Free Agents in the upcoming issues. With a little luck, they might get a franchise tag. Until then, grab the debut issue from Image Comics immediately.
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