Tag Archives: jordi armengol

Revenge stalks a young girl in Gunslingers

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Dark Horse Comics presents a new and gritty Western tale about revenge, family, and surviving the ruthless West in the original graphic novel, Gunslingers. Written by Dark Horse Comics Founder Mike Richardson with art by creative partner Jordi Armengol and lettering by Jim Campbell, readers should be prepared for gunfights and powerful action when this posse arrives in March 2025.

Josephine’s 12th birthday turns to tragedy when, on a trip with her family into town for a special treat, her parents are shot and killed by a group of drunken cowboys. That group just happens to include Andrew McGeary, the son of an influential rancher celebrating his upcoming wedding. The following day, things go from bad to worse when, while at the sheriff’s office, Andrew shifts the blame onto Josephine’s parents. Enraged by the lie, and traumatized by the sight of her parents’ murder, Josephine unthinkingly grabs the sheriff’s gun and shoots Andrew dead. As a result, Andrew’s father wants Josephine tried and hanged for her crime. She is unexpectedly freed from custody by the outlaw grandfather she never met. Ethan Foster, a gunfighter long thought dead, comes out of hiding to save the only remaining member of his family. He and the girl face the relentless pursuit of the McGearys’ hired gunmen in order for him to accomplish the one last thing that might atone for his past.

Don’t miss your shot to secure Gunslingers, set to hit bookstores on March 18, 2025, and comic shops on March 19, 2025. This 128-page paperback (6.625 x 10.1875″) book is now available for pre-order for $19.99 from TFAW, Amazon, Barnes and Noble or your local bookstore, or visit Comic Shop Locator for more details and stores near you.

Gunslingers

Navigator, the first graphic novel from John Bruno

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From Academy Award-winner and Director, John Bruno—the visual effects mastermind behind Avatar, Terminator 2, and The Abyss—comes his first graphic novel, Navigator! Based on an original story by Bruno, Steve Burg and Ron Thornton, with screenplay by John Bruno and William Wisher. Illustrating this epic space adventure is Jordi Armengol who, with his atmospheric work, helps bring the cosmos to life.  

An alien navigator, captured in battle on Jupiter’s fourth moon, Europa, seeks sanctuary. In return, the alien will provide his advanced technology to help defend humankind from the alien force that enslaved him and has come to destroy us. In this backdrop is a story of love and reconciliation between a young Marine officer—placed in command of Earth’s forces—his estranged wife, and Amy, the daughter he’s never met.

Featuring 96 pages, The Navigator hardcover will be available at comic stores January 18, 2023 and in bookstores January 31, 2023. It is available for pre-order on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and at your local comic shop and bookstore. Navigator will retail for $24.99.

Navigator

Review: Cloaked #1

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Cloaked #1

Out of nowhere a vigilante appeared to strike fear into criminals. A mix between Batman and the Punisher, the “hero” took on crime in a “major American metropolis” and then disappeared. Twenty-five years later one of the richest people in the world has hired a former police officer, now detective, to try to figure out who the mystery hero really was. Cloaked #1 is an interesting start to the series that sets up an intriguing mystery that mixes noir/detective style with spandex.

Written by Mike Richarson, Cloaked #1 feels a bit like a throwback to 1990s Dark Horse when series like Hellboy and X were just starting out. There’s a “get back to the roots” aspect about it that’s intriguing in its execution and look. The concept of the series is pretty simple, unmask a hero who disappeared but the comic takes that and mixes it with a look and style that’s much more like the recent renaissance of detective comics that have launched in the past decade.

Roger “Jake” Stevens is the detective at the center of the story and his character is rooted in the genre, strereotypes, and clichés. He’s a former police officer. He’s slightly crooked and doesn’t follow rules. He grew up a troubled youth. Then there’s the relationship issues including an affair. It’s almost like check list for the genre was used when creating the character. It’s not a bad thing and in some ways makes getting into the series a bit easier. It’s familiar and allows the reader to just sit back and enjoy the concept without having to really focus too much on the character specifics. We generally know who Jake is since we’ve seen this character so many times in the past.

Part of the throwback charm to Cloaked #1 is the art by Jordi Armengol. Joined by Nate Piekos on lettering, the comic looks like it would have fit right in with the Dark Horse Legend imprint. It also has a certain look to it that has it have a vibe similar to the modern detective comics that have been made popular by Ed Brubaker, Sean Phillips, and others. Interestingly, I think the art actually stands out most in the action scenes featuring the former superhero and has me wanting to see a series of that character with Armengol on art. There’s some issues, a sidekick’s forehead looks a little weird and out of proportion, but overall, there’s a solid match of the art to the style of story.

Cloaked #1 is a debut with a lot of potential. The comic ends in an interesting place and it’s easy to make some guesses as to where it will go from here. Hopefully, the series delivers more than my current suspicions but its mix of spandex and detective stories is an interesting one that creates a read that’s just slightly different than what else is on the shelf.

Story: Mike Richardson Art: Jordi Armengol
Color: Jordi Armengol Lettering: Nate Piekos
Story: 8.0 Art: 8.4 Overall: 8.0 Recommendation: Buy

Dark Horse provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: comiXology – Kindle

The Icon Shines a Bright Light into the Dark Corners of Truth, Justice, and the American Way

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From writer and Dark Horse founder Mike Richardson, alongside artist Jordi Armengol, comes the cataclysmic crime miniseries, The Icon.

Twenty-five years ago, a genuine masked hero came out of nowhere to declare war on crime. All of America celebrated the exploits of the black-clad vigilante as he took down one lawbreaker after another, until suddenly he vanished. But when down-on-his-luck investigator Jake Stevens is hired to find the long-missing dark avenger, his inquiries threaten to expose the myth behind the mask. In gritty realistic detail, The Icon shines a bright light into the dark corners of truth, justice, and the American Way.

The Icon #1 (of four) arrives in comic shops December 15.