Tag Archives: sci-fu

Preview: Sci-Fu Book 2: It Takes 2

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Sci-Fu Book 2: It Takes 2

Yehudi Mercado

Wax, aspiring DJ and sci-fu master-in-training, made it back safely from the alien robot planet of Discopia, where he defeated the Five Deadly Dangers and became the rightful king of Discopia. He doesn’t want the crown, though. He just wants things to go back to normal. Wax and his crew thought the robot trouble was behind them, but strange style-biting creatures have been showing up in Brooklyn, and Wax is determined to take care of them once and for all. Little does he know, there’s a new villain in Discopia, and she’ll do anything to take the crown from Wax. Wax will need to kick his hip-hop and sci-fu training into high gear—and learn to rely on his family and friends for help—if he’s going to have a shot at saving his neighborhood.

From legendary cartoonist Yehudi Mercado comes the much-anticipated follow-up to his hit Sci-Fu: Kick It Off. With a second volume jam-packed with all kinds of hip-hop, sci-fi, and kung-fu goodness, Sci-Fu: It Takes 2 spins the perfect track of friends working together to protect their home.

Sci-Fu Book 2: It Takes 2

Review: Sci-Fu

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Hip-Hop, Sci-Fi and Kung Fu all hit the turn-tables for the mash-up mix of the year! Cartoonist/force of nature Yehudi Mercado sets his sights on 1980s Brooklyn and Wax, a young mix-master who scratches the perfect beat and accidentally summons a UFO that transports his family, best friend, and current crush to the robot-dominated planet of Discopia. Now Wax and his crew must master the intergalactic musical martial art of Sci-Fu to fight the power and save Earth. Word to your mother.

I grew up in the 1980s and love early rap. It regularly is found on any playlists I make. So take my love of early rap and scratching and mix it with my love of kung fu films and it really shouldn’t be a surprise as to how much I enjoyed this graphic novel.

Sci-Fu isn’t really groundbreaking material but what it does it takes a lot of fun elements, mashes them together, and creates a unique experience that’s entertaining. The structure of the graphic novel is reminiscent of video games in that there’s boss battles and “levels” in between. It completely works, especially when Mercado breaks that structure later on with a twist that’s unexpected.

The story focuses mainly on Wax but also his friends and family that are pulled in the strange dimension with him. While he trains, they attempt to have a semi-normal life both going to school and also working their ice-cream truck. It’s all weird. But a fun weird.

A lot of the comic is done in rap verses an element that really works and isn’t overused. Primarily in battles, the rhymes have that throwback style to the 80s, so those who only know rap from the 90s on might find the flow and content a little off. But, it was a different time (one I prefer).

Mercado is a talented comic creator and here he mixes his unique artistic style with a story that feels like a perfect mix together, like a solid ice cream flavor you weren’t expecting (read the comic, the metaphor works). The character designs are awesome and feature his signature but it’s how out there the world and villains are that are the real fun. The battles feel like video games, the characters are creative, the coloring pops. There’s a graffiti element to it all that beyond works. It’s also an art style (and a story) that feels like kids will love.

Reading this, you can tell Mercado is having fun with this creation. There’s lots of twists and turns and I’m not going to ruin it all. There’s a lot here I want explored more, I want to see another volume. There’s some elements that could have been fleshed out more but overall, this is an entertaining debut. I’d say it’s unexpected but Mercado is a talent where you expect something as good as this.

Story: Yehudi Mercado Art: Yehudi Mercado
Story: 8.0 Art: 8.0 Overall: 8.0 Recommendation: Buy

Oni Press provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Preview: Sci-Fu

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Sci-Fu

(W/A/C/CA) Yehudi Mercado
Age Rating: All Ages
Genre: Sci-Fi
Price: $12.99
Page Count: 144

Hip-Hop, Sci-Fi and Kung Fu all hit the turn-tables for the mash-up mix of the year! Cartoonist/force of nature Yehudi Mercado (Pantalones, TX, Rocket Salvage) sets his sights on 1980s Brooklyn and Wax, a young mix-master who scratches the perfect beat and accidentally summons a UFO that transports his family, best friend, and current crush to the robot-dominated planet of Discopia. Now Wax and his crew must master the intergalactic musical martial art of Sci-Fu to fight the power and save Earth. Word to your mother.

Yehudi Mercado to Launch Sci-Fu at the SXSW Block Party

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On Saturday March 10, join writer and artist Yehudi Mercado at Austin Books & Comics, 5002 N Lamar Blvd, from 12-4pm, for the launch of his new all-ages graphic novel, Sci-Fu. This is a free, family-friendly event that requires no SXSW badge, with additional live music, exclusive swag—even a food truck!

Hip-Hop, sci-fi, and kung fu all hit the turntables for the mash-up mix of the year! Cartoonist/force of nature Yehudi Mercado sets his sights on 1980s Brooklyn and Wax, a young mix-master who scratches the perfect beat and accidentally summons a UFO that transports his family, best friend, and unrequited crush to the robot-dominated planet of Discopia. Now, Wax and his crew must master the intergalactic musical martial art of Sci-Fu to fight the power and save Earth. Word to your mother.

Yehudi Mercado is a Los Angeles-based writer and illustrator whose previous work includes Guardians of the Galaxy: The Universal Weapon for Marvel/Disney Interactive, and Pantalones, TX and Rocket Salvage with BOOM! Studios and their Archaia imprint. He is currently storyboarding DC’s Superhero Girls animated series.

Since 1977, Austin Books & Comics has been Central Texas’ biggest, longest-running comics and pop culture retailer, helping fans discover their favorite comics. Austin Books is a multiple Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retail finalist, and was inducted into the Austin Chronicle’s “Best Of” Hall of Fame.

Oni Press Announces Five New Titles for Spring 2018

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Oni Press is expanding its line of comics with five new titles to release Spring 2018 including: The Altered History of Willow Sparks by Tara O’Connor, Archival Quality by Ivy Noelle Weir and Steenz, Sci-Fu by Yehudi Mercado, Dead Weight: Murder at Camp Bloom by Terry Blas, Molly Muldoon, and Matthew Seely, and My Boyfriend is a Bear by Pamela Ribon and Cat Farris.

The Altered History of Willow Sparks by Tara O’Connor (January 17)

What happens when you can finally get everything you ever wanted? Willow Sparks and her best friend Georgia Pratt are at the bottom of the social ladder at Twin Pines High School, just trying to get through each day relatively unscathed. But when Willow finds a mysterious book that allows her to literally change her life, it feels like her luck is finally turning. As she becomes more and more popular with each entry into the book, her old life, including her friendship with Georgia, seems miles away. Yet as Willow will discover, every action has a reaction, and the future has unusual—even dangerous—ways of protecting itself.

Tara O’Connor is a New Jersey-based cartoonist. She is the author of Roots, which will be available September 2017 from IDW Publishing’s Top Shelf imprint. This her first graphic novel with Oni Press.

Archival Quality by Ivy Noelle Weir and Steenz (March 7)

After losing her job at the library, Celeste Walden starts working at the haunting Logan Museum as an archivist. But the job may not be the second chance she was hoping for, and she finds herself confronting her mental health, her relationships, and before long, her grasp on reality as she begins to dream of a young woman she’s never met, but feels strangely drawn to. Especially after she asks Cel for help…

As Cel attempts to learn more about the woman, she begins losing time, misplacing things, passing out—the job is becoming dangerous, but she can’t let go of this mysterious woman. Who is she? Why is she so fixated on Cel? And does Cel have the power to save her when she’s still trying to save herself?

Philadelphia-based writer Ivy Noelle Weir and St. Louis-based illustrator Steenz have collaborated on numerous comics projects together including a short for the series Princeless. Steenz’s artwork has been featured in the critically acclaimed and award-winning anthology Elements: Fire, as well as Ham4Pamphlet, a collaborative illustration project inspired by the hit Broadway musical Hamilton, while Weir has written numerous articles for Women Write About Comics, American Libraries magazine, and NoveList in addition to her fiction writing. Both Weir and Steenz have worked both as librarians as well as being involved with The Valkyries, an online group for women who work in comic shops around the world. Archival Quality is their first Oni Press graphic novel.

Sci-Fu by Yehudi Mercado (March 14)
Hip-Hop, Sci-Fi, and Kung Fu all hit the turntables for the mash-up mix of the year! Cartoonist/force of nature Yehudi Mercado sets his sights on 1980s Brooklyn and Wax, a young mix-master who scratches the perfect beat and accidentally summons a UFO that transports his family, best friend, and current crush to the robot-dominated planet of Discopia. Now Wax and his crew must master the intergalactic musical martial art of Sci-Fu to fight the power and save Earth. Word to your mother.

Yehudi Mercado, a Los Angeles-based writer and illustrator, has previously worked on other projects such as Guardians of the Galaxy: The Universal Weapon for Marvel/Disney Interactive, and Rocket Salvage and Pantalones, TX, with BOOM! Studios and their Archaia imprint.

My Boyfriend is a Bear by Pamela Ribon and Cat Farris (April 11)

Nora has bad luck with men. When she meets an (actual) bear on a hike in the Los Angeles hills, he turns out to be the best romantic partner she’s ever had! He’s considerate, he’s sweet, he takes care of her. But he’s a bear, and winning over her friends and family is difficult. Not to mention he has to hibernate all winter. Can true love conquer all?

Pamela Ribon is a best-selling novelist, and has written comics such as Rick and Morty™ for Oni Press and her original series Slam! for BOOM! Studios. After over a decade working in television, she became a member of Disney Animation’s StoryTrust, where she worked on Moana and is currently co-writing the upcoming Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2. Cat Farris is the creator of the webcomic The Last Diplomat and the minicomic series Flaccid Badger, has worked for companies such as Amazon and Rovio Entertainment, and illustrated Dark Horse Comics’ Emily and the Strangers.

Dead Weight: Murder at Camp Bloom by Terry Blas, Molly Muldoon, and Matthew Seely (April 25)

Deep in the Oregon wilderness sits Camp Bloom, a weight-loss camp where “overweight” teens can “get in shape.” Jesse would rather be anywhere else, but her parents are forcing her to go. Noah isn’t sure if he wants to be there, but it’s too late to turn back. Tony is heartbroken at the thought of giving up his phone and internet. And Kate… well, she likes the hikes, at least. As far as these four teens are concerned, it’s just another boring summer. Until one night, when Jesse and Noah witness a beloved counselor’s murder. The body’s gone by the next morning, but a blurry photo leads to one clue—the murderer is one of the camp’s staff members!

But which one? As Jesse, Noah, Kate, and Tony investigate, they quickly discover that everyone’s got their secrets… and one of them would kill to keep theirs hidden.

Terry Blas’ work has previously appeared on comic book covers for Bravest Warriors, Regular Show, The Amazing World of Gumball, Adventure Time, Rick and Morty™, and The Legend of Bold Riley. Matthew Seely’s animation has previously appeared on MTV’s Greatest Party Story Ever. Molly Muldoon’s current projects include the forthcoming Cardboard Kingdom from Knopf.