All Crime Comics #1

Cars, murder, revenge. That’s the makings of a solid pulp comic. And through a twisted tale of those three things, and dames, we get an entertaining read that fits right into the crime comics of old.

The comic is a tale of car theft and murder bouncing back and forth throughout the years telling the story of two friends and their slide into crime. It hits all the right beats, with a pacing that’s brisk and entertaining. I particularly like how the story is laid out and set up.

What stands out to me is the art. It’s fantastic, raising the overall quality of the comic. I especially enjoy the second chapter which throwbacks to the early days of art and coloring, dots and all. It’s a great touch that adds ton to the comic.

Finally it’s kind of hard to not mention the cover with a beat look that just screams pulp. The small details peppered throughout the cover alone shows the small details that really drives the comic and makes it feel like a great pulp story from years past.

If you’re a fan of pulp or crime comics, this is a great buy.

Story: The Art of Fiction Art: Ed Laroche and Marc Sandroni

Story: 7.75 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8 Recommendation: Buy

Dames in the Atomic Age

The first original graphic novel from Art of Fiction, Dames in the Atomic Age is a unique pulp tale that pays homage to the B-movies, sci-fi serials, and crime magazines of the 1940s and ‘50s.

I’m a fan of pulp. Give me a cheesy B-movie and I’m happy to sit back and zone out. This comic covers it all. Everything is thrown in there with giant ants, cloning, crazy stuff and it’s a lot of fun. What adds to it all is it’s wrapped in a crime comic, so there’s a hint of noir in there as well.

When I think of these types of movies or comics, I want something that just screams fun. I don’t want to have to think or dissect the story. I want to relax and be entertained. It’s goofy fun! That’s what this comic does. It entertains just like those same movies.

It feels like everything including the kitchen sink is thrown in here, but that’s part of the fun. While we might have scene each of the things that pop up in other movies or stories, it’s still entertaining here and most importantly fun.

There’s also some great breaks of art with different artists throwing in a short strip or pin-up that adds to the overall feel of the comic. It’s a great package, well thought out from story to production.

Story: Christopher Ryder Art: Marc Sandroni, Mike Vosburg, Paul Little, Tony Fleecs, Andy Suriano, Chris Moreno, Tone Rodriguez, Mark Dos Santos, Brad Rader and Rahsan Ekedal

Story: 8 Art: 8.75 Overall: 8.25 Recommendation: Buy