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SPX 2024 Debut Review: Mae the Master leaves us wanting more

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Mae The Master

Mae and her friends are determined to be the best martial artists on the planet. Too bad the Podunk village they live in can’t offer a bigger challenge than “Pervis, the Glass Weasel!.” But, when they come across the well known fighter Stone Caesar, have they met their match? Mae the Master is an entertaining read that’s a clear love letter to Shonen Manga.

Written and art by M. Jacob Alvarez, Mae the Master is a familiar story that doesn’t veer too much from its roots. A group of fighters are at a tournament and wind up fighting. It doesn’t get more complicated than that really. But, Alvarez delivers a fun innocence about this take that delivers a little bit of spin.

Mae the Master is an indie comic, one that’s done out of love for the genre with a bit of its own take on the “tournament concept.” In this case, Alvarez focuses on a rather innocent fighter, one that’s surrounded by many well above her abilities. Her innocence mixed with the rather realistic viewpoint of her friends, mixed with the gruff rest of the contestants creates a mix that’s not necessarily new overall, but makes it a bit more than just a comic focused on fighting. You kind of want to see the sweet innocent fighter kick some ass.

Alvarez’s art is entertaining too. The characters all have personality in their look and the fighting itself is decent. This is an entertaining indie comic, rough in the art and concept but overall it comes together and is boosted by the clear love the creator has for the concept.

The negative is the comic feels like it just ends. I wanted to read more immediately which is absolutely a good thing. I want to see the full tournament play out and where it all goes. If you’re at Small Press Expo 2024 this coming weekend, the comic is listed as free so there’s no reason to not grab a copy and check out Alvarez’s talent.

Story: M. Jacob Alvarez Art: M. Jacob Alvarez
Story: 7.0 Art: 7.0 Overall: 7.0 Recommendation: “Buy“

Hypno Spiral Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Get yours at SPX 2024

SPX 2024 Debut Review: The Atheist’s Guide to the Old Testament is a compact action packed take on the Bible

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The Atheist’s Guide to the Old Testament

Described as an easy-to-read exegesis for doubters, scoffers and blasphemers, The Atheist’s Guide to the Old Testament makes its debut at this weekend’s Small Press Expo (SPX).

Written and art by M. Jacob Alvarez The Atheist’s Guide to the Old Testament keeps the focus on the action from the Torah/Bible skipping the books packed with rules and instead getting to the meat of it. Action, battles, mass murder, lots of sexual assault, it’s covered in a somewhat humorous take by Alvarez who cuts through the crap and gets to the entertaining parts.

I’ve read the Bible through and most of it is a slog. Alvarez has a knack for making it entertaining by presenting the more salacious moments. And, as presented, it comes off as a multi-part summer blockbuster.

But, what’s interesting is Alvarez brings it all together by the end reflecting on some key details that connects the stories and some of the themes and questions they raise. There’s also the dance between fact and fiction and what seems to be forgotten over time or just not really focused on.

The Atheist’s Guide to the Old Testament is an entertaining read that cuts through the slog that so much of the Bible is and instead presents things in an entertaining way that focuses on stories that could be blockbuster films. There’s an entertaining spin that Alvarez puts to it all, making the Bible a fun read that brings blasphemy, blockbuster, and pop culture fun together.

Story: M. Jacob Alvarez Art: M. Jacob Alvarez
Story: 8.0 Art: 7.75 Overall: 8.0 Recommendation: Buy

Hypno Spiral Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Get yours at SPX 2024 – Hypno Spiral Comics store