In the post-apocalypse desert town of American Waste, Trini Wastelander has always wanted to be on Skull-Crusher’s screaming pain ball team. Now, with the opportunity to make her dreams come true, Trini has to assemble a scrappy squad of players to play on Skuller Crusher’s team potentially. Josie Campbell and Alessio Zonno’s I Heart Skull Crusher! #1 starts a compelling new series filled with humor, bandits, and fighting. 

Campbell never slows down the pace from the beginning but presses harder on the gas as you learn more about Trini and the world of American Waste. I appreciate Campbell trusting the reader to keep up with the story while dropping us immediately into this universe. More specifically, she crafts an exciting world with a strong and relatable protagonist that you can’t help but fall in love with. Considering how many different narratives have tackled apocalyptic wastelands, Campbell framing it through a darkly humorous lens and playing with those overdone tropes feels highly refreshing. Imbuing the story with a robust pop-punk vibe quickly overtook me. 

I Heart Skull Crusher! #1’s writing is also heavily influenced by sports manga and anime. Trini feels akin to a shonen protagonist, with her personality and goals aligning with that archetype. I am a sucker for those characters, and I appreciate Campbell playing with those elements. Even the twin bandits appearing at the end of the issue would feel like they were in those stories. As a result, I Heart Skull Crusher! #1 will satisfy readers who are already sports manga or anime fans or want a book to dip their toes into those stories. By bringing those story sensibilities to the series, Campbell crafts an engaging and fast-paced narrative that stands out from other titles on the shelf. I Heart Skull Crusher! #1 can easily be described as Fallout combined with a shonen sports anime.

Aside from manga and anime influencing the writing, it can also be seen in Zonno’s expressive and stylized artwork. Considering the heightened nature of the world, his work expertly translates it through his visuals. Whether through character design, facial expressions, or paneling, he hearkens back to that aesthetic while making it his own. He even draws Trini’s dreams about Skull Crusher’s team, referencing Clamp’s Visual style. Angel De Santiago’s coloring works in tandem with Zonno’s art through his excellent color scheme. Visualizing the world through neutral colors helps sell the wasteland setting while allowing the more striking colors to be distinct and contrast with the setting. Letterer Jim Campbell’s work sells this exciting world and culture. 

I Heart Skull Crusher #1 is an exciting debut to a new series perfect for sports manga and anime fans and comic book readers looking for a fun time. Campbell and Zonno do an excellent job crafting an exciting world with a strong narrative premise. So cue the training montage in a wasteland full of screaming pain ball, water bandits, and grit. 

Story: Josie Campbell Art: Alessio Zonno
Color: Angel De Santiago Letterer: Jim Campbell
Story: 8.4 Art: 8.7 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Read

BOOM! Studios provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

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Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle