Welcome to near future Los Angeles—a neon-scorched city where skateboarding has been ruthlessly outlawed. But nothing stops Skate Ali. By day, she’s just another student dodging detention. By night—she’s a rebel on wheels, an enigmatic loner defying the law on the Los Angeles streets. But when Ali slams headfirst into the infamous world of underground skateboarding, she comes face to face with a crew of outcast skaters called the LA Skull Clan, and their masked leader, Skull Queen 9. Fueled by a magical force called the Rush, the clan pulls off explosive moves and defiant acts of resistance. Faced with the opportunity of leveling up her game, but afraid of actually being perceived by others, Ali must decide: will she play it safe, or kickflip straight into a revolution? Skate Ali #1 feels a bit like the 80s and 90s skateboarding movies that gave a big middle finger to authority while also showing off other tricks.
Written by Kelly Sue DeConnick and Sam Humphries, Skate Ali #1 introduces us to a world that feels like it’s not all that impossible. There’s been attempts to outlaw activities primarily enjoyed by kids. Attacks on skaters is a common thing, with moves to limit where they can skate and labelling them as troublemakers and a nuisance. Skate Ali #1 feels like an extension of all of that with jackbooted thugs attempting to break up skating clans.
But, DeConnick and Humphries add more to the concept with each of those skating clans bringing something magical/mystical to the action. It’s battles with a slight twist as there’s powers skaters tap that allow them to perform bigger tricks or just create a skate park out of nothing. It’s an element that infuses a video game aspect to the world adding powerups to the equation and giving each group more of a personality.
The art by Natacha Bustos and lettering by Josh Reed add to the pop punk style the comic bleeds. There’s a great style to it with characters having so much personality, each delivering a unique look that tells its own story. The world is also key in setting up the concept and direction delivering one that feels like it’s slightly worn down and familiar, but also slight details on it being futuristic. It’s the type of future that’s only slightly different than ours, one that helps immerse the reader and not distract with all of the fancy tech. But, that visually works great for a comic whose focus is skateboards. The color of the comic helps make it pop taking it from a rather dour story of police rule to one of defiance and seeking enjoyment and what we love in the face of authority.
Skate Ali #1 is a fun start to the series. It has a solid concept that feels like it’s a bit of a throwback to 80s and 90s skateboarding films where they take on some evil politician or corporation. It’s infusion of abilities for the various skateboarding groups also gives it a bit more of a fantastical feel that sucks readers in to the enjoyment of it all and opens up the possibilities.
Story: Kelly Sue DeConnick, Sam Humphries Art: Natacha Bustos Letterer: Josh Reed
Story: 8.25 Art: 8.25 Overall: 8.25 Recommendation: Buy
Dark Horse Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle
