Tag Archives: simon coleby

Spinning out of the Classic Game Fighting Fantasy… Freeway Fighter!

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ff-logoCritically acclaimed writer Andi Ewington teams up with original creator Ian Livingstone and artist Simon Coleby for Freeway Fighter – a furious, four-issue road trip like no other, speeding from Titan Comics in May 2017.

Spinning out of the legendary Fighting Fantasy series of gamebooks created by Ian Livingstone and Steve Jackson in 1982, the post-apocalyptic Freeway Fighter distinguished itself by deviating from the usual mix of orcs, goblins and cave-trolls. Celebrating 35 years in 2017, Fighting Fantasy brought together choice driven storytelling with a dice-based role-playing system to create a world in which “YOU are the hero!” The series sold over 18 million copies worldwide and is translated in over 30 languages.

In the new comics series, an unknown virus has wiped out over 85% of the world’s human population. Former I-400 Driver Bella De La Rosa is one of the 15% – living every day as if it were her last. Now, eighteen months after the collapse of civilization, faced with a new world order where violence and chaos rule the Freeway, she must hone her racing skills and survive any way she can!

Freeway Fighter #1 thunders into comic stores and digital devices in May 2017, just in time for the 35th Anniversary of Fighting Fantasy. Keep your eyes on the road for more announcements spinning out from this brand-new story soon.

Review: Dreaming Eagles #1

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Dreaming Eagles #1 CoverInspired by true events, Dreaming Eagles tells the story of the first African American fighter pilots to join the United States Army Air Force in WWII and whose humble beginnings in Tuskegee, Alabama propelled them into the deadly skies above Adolf Hitler’s Third Reich. Not only were they instrumental against the Nazi war machine, but also braved an equally great challenge, overcoming everyday bigotry amongst their fellow American soldiers as well as civilians at home. High in the heavens, they fought a battle that would change their country and their world forever.

Writer Garth Ennis is an industry legend for his output, and for all of his well known series like Preacher, The Boys, and Hellblazer, he’s been putting out some amazing war comics, especially set in World War II.

This one is a bit interesting in that Ennis not only takes on some real world events, but also dives in to race relations and the Civil Rights movement. I haven’t read everything he’s done, so not sure if he’s touched upon those latter subjects, and I’m not a history expert, so not sure how he handled the former. So, going into the first issue, I’ll admit I was nervous, because this is easy to mess up (and there’s a few examples of comics just this year alone of that). I have to say, I’m pretty impressed with the first issue and he seems to handle those topics well.

The issue doesn’t go into a massive amount of depth, but it seems to big picture handle the issues of integration in the army and the Civil Rights movement well so far, tying the two together with a nice generational tale. Expecting a few moments of wincing, there wasn’t one. The only criticism I’ll say about the subject is that it’d be great to see some resources folks can go to so they can learn more about the actual history the comic is based on.

The art by Simon Coleby is nice and does a great job depicting each character as an individual so that you can really tell the difference between characters. The details Coleby ads helps with the comic’s historical aspect as the art helps place you there. The coloring too differentiates between the eras with World War II being a bit brighter than the 60s.

I will say, I was really surprised by the comic. Ennis does great war comics, but throwing in racial aspects really makes this one stand out. It also impressively makes me want to see how close it is to actual history as far as the war. It’s a comic that makes me want to learn. This comic has been the surprise of the week for me. Absolutely check it out.

Story: Garth Ennis Art: Simon Coleby
Story: 9.1 Art: 8.6 Overall: 9.1 Recommendation: Buy

Review: Judge Dredd Year One #4

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20130810-125724.jpgJudge Dredd Year One take places ten years after the Atomic War, in a Mega-City One that is still recovering and rebuilding. Our immovable lawgiver is a recent graduate of the Academy and still in his rookie year as a representative of the Hall of Justice. Tasked to investigate a rash of paranormal incidents involving violent juveniles, Dredd has found himself trapped in a parallel Mega-City One with a band of judges unwilling to take back their fallen city. Can he motivate his peers and save their city with enough time to make it back to his own?

I have limited experience with the Dredd universe, and while ‘Year One’ sounds like a decent starting point, I’m pretty sure diehard fans would refer me to Wagner’s Judge Dredd Origins to find out how it all started. Regardless, this four book mini-series is still an interesting look at how a young, idealistic judge delivers hard justice on the streets of Mega-City One.

While one would assume nonstop wordless action, editor-turned-writer Matt Smith packed the pages full of dialogue (letterer Gilberto Lazcano was gainfully employed). And although I wasn’t wild about the supernatural tint, Smith crafted an engaging storyline that made me look forward to each subsequent issue.

Simon Coleby‘s visuals bring out the gritty streets and hollowness of Dredd’s current predicament. His pencils have an early 90s look to them, much like The Wake‘s Sean Murphy. Unfortunately, at times faces lose detail in close ups, thankfully this doesn’t detract from our helmet-wearing protagonist. Leonard O’Grady‘s colors compliment Coleby’s artwork, and although they pay homage to Dredd’s 2000 AD days, I’ve always disliked the green gloves and boots.

While the story and art were thoroughly executed, I mistakenly expected unending, futuristic action…yet Smith delivered a mature, extended X-Files episode. Just because I failed to manage my expectations going into it, doesn’t mean dedicated fans won’t truly appreciate this glimpse at Dredd’s early days on the force.

Story: Matt Smith Art: Simon Coleby
Story: 7 Art: 7 Overall: 7 Recommendation: Read

IDW Publishing provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

IDW and 2000 AD Take Dredd Back to Year One!

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Though Judge Joseph Dredd’s exploits have changed the post-apocalyptic sprawl of Mega-City One forever, there was a Mega-City One before Dredd ever hopped aboard a Lawmaster. In March 2013’s Judge Dredd: Year One, Eagle Award-winning 2000 AD Editor-in-Chief Matt Smith takes up arms with Dredd veterans Simon Coleby on interiors and Greg Staples on covers to deliver the thrilling exploits of a younger Judge Dredd!

One would be hard pressed to call the young Dredd “fresh-faced” or “eager,” but there is certainly a learning curve to policing Mega-City One’s vast and vicious criminal element. This thrilling period of Dredd’s career was previously explored by Smith in Judge Dredd: Year One – City Fathers, the hit e-novella published by 2000 AD earlier this year, but was immediately recognized as an avenue perfectly suited for a different story told through a comic-book miniseries.

In “The Long, Hard Road,” Smith and Coleby tell a tale where “all the young juves, carry the news,” only in this case, that news is that juves across sector start manifesting psychic abilities. Dredd must team up for the first time with Psi-Division to combat the spreading chaos. But just what is causing the psi-outbreaks as it crosses the dimensions—and what does it have in store for Mega-City One?

By taking to the comics page and telling a new tale from Dredd’s early years on the force, IDW and 2000 AD are thrilled to be bringing fans a Dredd story the likes of which they’ve never seen; not to mention a rare look at the kind of harrowing futuristic criminal saga that built Dredd’s signature grimace. Like the old saying goes, “You can’t strike fear into the deranged heart of a criminal underbelly without breaking a few legs.”

In addition to the stellar team of Mega City One veterans on the book, dedicated Dredd fans will also find variant covers by Cerebus mastermind Dave Sim and Dredd co-creator Carlos Ezquerra in the offing! Fans are urged to appear at their nearest comic shop for judgment, lest they face eternity in the iso-cubes!

JUDGE DREDD: YEAR ONE #1 (FC, 32 pages, $3.99). In stores 3/27/13

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