Reviewer: Chris Delloiacono
Story Title: N/A
Written by: Brian Augustyn
Penciled by: H.S. Park
Inked by: Y.C. Jang
Colored by: Transparency Digital
Lettered by: Dave Lanphear of Artmonkeys
Cover penciled by: H.S. Park
Cover digital painting by: H. Suh & Kenneth Choi
Editor: Kenneth Choi
Publisher: Kandora Publishing
A lot of fans complain about comics not being fun anymore. I even do it sometimes. Of course, much of the problem can be attributed to the books we’re reading. If you look around there are plenty of “fun” books. The biggest misconception about fun books is that they’re silly or slapstick. That doesn’t have to be the case. For me, a fun book is something that makes me forget about the world around me for the ten or fifteen minutes that I’m enjoying it. It’s not about grim and gritty realism. Instead it’s about escapism, high adventure, and heroic characters.
When it comes to comics it’s also about value for my money. Far too often I want to cry after reading a comic. Not because the writing was that emotion-packed. Instead it was because my money was wasted on a five minute read with nothing but padding for the collected edition that will be available any day now.
Kandora Publishing’s first release, Barbarossa & the Lost Corsairs #1, doubly impressed me with its message of fun mixed with great value.
Barbarossa & the Lost Corsairs follows the fantasy adventures of the real life 18th century pirate Barbarossa (known as Red Beard). Barbarossa has come to Italy in hopes of snaring the Lady Julia of Fondi. Not so much because he needs to, but because he was told it was impossible. When Barbarossa meets the lady he’s amazed at her fighting ability, impossible beauty, and that she actually wants to go with him. Barbarossa and Julia escape together and are pursued by her father and his men. Instead of battle we move into an epic chase sequence on the high seas. During a storm the band of corsairs and some of their pursuers are carried into a fantastical dimension. We are left with the crew embarking on the beginning of their greatest journey.
To break it down quickly: this book does everything that a premiere issue should. Not only does it establish the setting, but we are introduced to the main cast members, there’s plenty of action, and we get a great idea of where we are headed. Writer Brian Augustyn sets the tone for what we can expect in the coming months, but he also gives us a complete story with a beginning, middle, and an end. Plus, there’s a stellar cliffhanger that has me waiting for next month’s issue.
One of the keys to success for the comic is the 32 pages of story. The ten additional pages allow the story to be grander than it might have been at the more traditional 22 pages that we get from most publishers. Augustyn’s script is packed with some nice character-centered sequences to introduce the players, beautiful locations, and when the action comes it is widescreen and cinematic.
The characters, settings, and stellar action are brought to the four-color world by Korean artist H.S. Park. Any comic hinges on the synthesis of writing and artwork. Park and Augustyn collaborate beautifully. Even the quiet moments of Barbarossa & the Lost Corsairs are in kinetic motion. H.S. Park beautifully illustrates each new location and character. This book is so exciting you may find yourself worn out by the end. A hearty thank you goes to H.S. Park, who is one of the artistic finds of 2005–at least for American audiences.
Kandora’s motto–Story Driven Genre Comics–sets them apart from most other publishers. Kandora is clearly trying to step into the old position that CrossGen had in the comic marketplace. Their product is as slick as anything on the market today. In fact, the design and paper quality are chips right off the CrossGen block. The actual product, though, is not a pretty, but empty fortune cookie. This is a package that’s beautiful to look at on the inside and the outside, but there’s a cream filling inside that’s as hearty as anything else on the comic rack. I can’t wait for issue #2 next month. This first offering also has me waiting for the other three books in Kandora’s line which will be launching over the next few months. That’s an outstanding debut!
