Tag Archives: hayley nitz

Review: Chasing Hitler #1

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As WWII draws to an end and the Allies surround Berlin, Adolf Hitler realizes that all is lost. Or is it? Two Allied servicemen are tasked with verifying Hitler’s death. When they can’t, the chase begins!

The idea of another Nazi filled comic honestly makes my eyes roll. The idea of Hitler not killing himself, that also creates a slight moan too. But, it’s not the concept that got me interested in reading Chasing Hitler #1 being published by Red 5 Comics, it’s who’s writing it.

Jai Nitz is the creator behind characters such as the Suicide Squad’s El Diablo and while his name is on the comic, it’s his high school niece Hayley Nitz whose idea sparked the series. It’s this creative team that and their backgrounds that have me the most interested in it all.

Jai Nitz is a talented writer and what I’ve read of his, I’ve enjoyed. Wanting to see if that talent extends to his niece is something that got me to read this. And, it would seem talent runs in the family.

Chasing Hitler #1 is the set up for the adventure to come as we see the wind down of Hitler in his bunker and his plan to escape as well as the two individuals who are tasked with verifying what has happened. While the first issue is a little choppy at times for the narrative, like the conclusion at the end, the story itself is entertaining and flows nicely. No moment is wasted and it all helps build out the two servicemen who are the center of our story. While they are a bit generic in some ways, they have enough chemistry to make things interesting.

There’s also some nice acknowledgement of history. When Germans surrender to the servicemen they’re presented with the prospect of being turned over to the Soviets. Their reactions feel pretty authentic and a nice nod to the reality of that situation (the Soviets reportedly didn’t treat prisoners as well as the rest of the Allies).

The art by Jethro Morales is solid. I really like the character design and the look of the comic as a whole. It feels set in World War II and a different style wouldn’t quite work. This is a good match of style and story.

Chasing Hitler #1 represents the start of a new voice in comics and it’s one that I want to see more of. This is an impressive start with a good concept, entertaining characters, and some solid art. There’s much further to go in the limited series so we’ll need to see if it sticks the landing but this start has me looking forward to the next issue.

Story: Jai Nitz, Hayley Nitz Art: Jethro Morales
Story: 7.0 Art: 7.75 Overall: 7.25 Recommendation: Read

Red 5 Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

A High School Senior is Writing Her First Comic Book Being Published by Red 5 Comics

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Hayley Nitz is a high school senior and avid comic fan who dreams of one day becoming a comic book writer in her own right, and is already writing at a professional level.  She’s also the niece of Jai Nitz who actually is a comic book writer – he co-created the DC Comics character EL Diablo recently seen in Suicide Squad. Together the two of them have taken a classic alternate history question and brought a new spin to it in Chasing Hitler.

The story spun out of Hayley’s American History class after she learned that Hitler’s body was never identified after World War II leading her to start playing with the idea of  “what if he survived”.

The story begins at the end of the war where Majors Alex Taylor and Conner Walsh come face to face with the Fuhrer during his attempt to fake his own death and flee the fall of Germany.  Unable to get anyone to believe them, Taylor and Walsh refuse to give up, pursuing clues of Hitler’s survival across continents and meeting new allies and villains along the way.  Will they bring history’s greatest criminal to justice?

The answer will be told in 2017 … if Chasing Hitler gets made. Red 5 Comics has optioned the series for publication once it is finished.  Hayley and Jair Nitz are running a Kickstarter campaign as we speak to raise funds for issues 2-4 in order to bring this story to you.

Chasing Hitler will be a four issue series written by Jai Nitz and Hayley Nitz with art by Jethro Morales and covers courtesy of Greg Smallwood, Mike Norton, Nathan Szerdy, and Phil Hester.

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