Punk Mambo faces off against a sinister sorcerer!

What does Azaire want with the loa he’s collected in Punk Mambo #4?

Mambo reaches deep into her bag of tricks to level the playing field. Sex magic may or may not be involved. But voodoo dolls definitely are.

Cullen Bunn, Adam Gorham and Jose Villarrubia (writer, art and colours respectively) once again come together to deliver a comic that is far more than the sum of its parts. There’s a roughness to the art at points that suits the character and the part of the story you’ll notice it incredibly well; Gorham and Villarrubia’s visual story telling allows Bunn to focus on the internal and external voice of Punk Mambo.

Last issue saw Punk Mambo confront the series villain before being viciously beaten as her magical abilities were temporarily drained. Although she gave as good as she got, numbers got the best of her – at least until her magic returned.

This issue sees her recovering from that beating, and examining the effects it had on her both physically and mentally. It’s during this introspective sequence we learn more about the character we (well, at least I) knew before. Glimmers of her past are revealed across a page of art and a few pages of narration that book ends said visual flashbacks. What I enjoyed most about the way the flashback was told is that it doesn’t interrupt the flow of the story (it’s actually pretty integral to the following scene), though it’s marred a little by the insinuation of a far more tragic past for Mambo.

Punk Mambo #4 reveals the motivation for the series villain, which is an oddly pedestrian cliche when you really boil it down, but Bunn frames it well enough that I really didn’t care. I was, and remain, far more interested in how the title character is responding to said villain than the revelation of the villain’s endgame.

The issue pulls the threads of the series together in a way that sets up a what should be a satisfying conclusion to the story.

Story: Cullen Bunn Art: Adam Gorham
Colours: Jose Villarrubia Letters: Dave Sharpe
Story: 9.2 Art: 9.2 Overall: 9.2 Recommendation: Buy

Valiant provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Punk Mambo wants revenge. Best of luck to anyone standing in her way.

For some reason, I’m sure it’s a coincidence, I’ve been listening to Bad Religion, Black Flag and other punk bands. The raw yet refined nature of their anger mixed with strangely infectious tunes springs to mind as I read this comic. I love bands that you really can’t hum along to, so my definition of an infectious tune will differ. It’s the raw and refined anger of punk music that Cullen Bunn captures so well within these pages.

Punk Mambo’s willingness and comfort doing her own thing when facing down a powerful enemy is a great example of her mentality. Just because people think you should do a thing, doesn’t mean you should. Especially if you don’t give a shit what they think.

This issue shows us the mental toughness of the character as she faces a brutal trial by combat after wandering through a muted effervescent factory floor filled with mystics. It’s a scene the showcases Adam Gorham‘s grasp of visual presentation. His use of two double page spreads one after the other serve as the visual focal point of the comic. That’s bookended by some interesting use of perspective with the panel and grid layouts. That highlights the descent into the supernatural verses. The more structured pages earlier in the comic where the story focuses on more real-world concerns.

Beyond Bunn’s grasp of the character’s nature, and his ability to weaves that into a compelling tale about the structure of voodoo and the mystic arts, we’re treated to an exciting visual masterpiece from Adam Gorham and colorist Jose Villarrubia. It’s the perfect representation of the story in your hands. It’s a gritty, yet odd enticing tale that makes for a brilliant comic book.

Punk Mambo #3 is the middle part of a series that, right at the halfway point has fallen into my Must Read pile with a screaming guitar and some pounding drums. I don’t know what I expected from a Valiant series focused on the publisher’s unconventional Voodoo practitioner. It sure as hell wasn’t a tale that pulled me in so completely.

I’m not normally a fan of magic based stories unless there’s a healthy dose of sword with my sorcery, but there’s something about this character, and this comic, that just has me excited. Punk Mambo has that X factor that so many comics just fall short of, and it is glorious. For a great comic, and a series that may be read through independently of any of her previous appearances. Punk Mambo #3 is easily one of the best comics I’ve read this month – don’t miss this book.

Story: Cullen Bunn Art: Adam Gorham
Colours: Jose Villarrubia Letters: Dave Sharpe
Story: 9.2 Art: 9.2 Overall: 9.2 Recommendation: Buy

Valiant provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

A totally disgusting demon named Uncle Gunnysack is abducting powerful spirits called loas in Punk Mambo #2. Can Punk Mambo stop the drooling, sharp-toothed fiend before it strikes again?

Get ready for magical brawlin’ in a bazaar!

Ahhhh Punk Mambo. The character with less shits to give that a constipated fish.

With Punk Mambo #2, Cullen Bunn highlights Mambo’s abrasive character. It’s a delight for readers as she acts as a thorn in the side of men and gods. Se also refuses to do anything she doesn’t want to do. It’s another way that Bunn allows readers unfamiliar with the character to get to know all they need. While it focuses on Punk Mambo’s attitude and world view – there isn’t a lot revealed about her past. When you know who she is, knowing what she’s done is secondary.

She’s an abrasive punk rocker with magical abilities, and that’s on full show this issue.

I maintain that Adam Gorham‘s art is suited to the character. It isn’t quite smooth and there isn’t a lot of polish or flashy digital effects immediately prevalent. The overall effect and impression of the art is brilliant. Last issue Punk Mambo unleashed her magical abilities. In Punk Mambo #2 she demonstrates her ability to take names and kick some arse. If you didn’t know anything about the character before, she’s going to be making a hell of an impression.

Punk Mambo #2 is very akin to the impact punk music has on those tired of the mundane over-produced music of today. Punk Mambo #2 is a breath of fresh air, followed by a shot of adrenaline. The reader is encouraged to be lost in the music (or the comic) and get taken along on a musical trip. Cullen Bunn, Adam Gorham and colorist Jose Villarrubia have produced one of the freshest feeling comics I’ve read in a long time. Don’t miss this.

Story: Cullen Bunn Art: Adam Gorham
Colours: Jose Villarrubia Letters: Dave Sharpe
Story: 8.9 Art: 8.8 Overall: 8.8 Recommendation: Buy

Valiant provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

New characters, new digs, same Punk attitude! 

From writer Cullen Bunn and artist Adam Gorham comes this hilariously horrifying tale. Punk Mambo is a hard-living voodoo priestess who grew up in London, then relocated to Louisiana’s Bayou Country. Now, she’s a mystical mercenary for hire. In her first-ever solo series, Punk Mambo investigates a series of abductions in the New Orleans gutter punk scene, stumbling upon a deadlier mystery that takes her to the haunted shores of Haiti.

It would be easy to look at Punk Mambo as a riff on John Constantine, but aside from both characters being English (and likely both from London), and both are dabbers in the mystical and magical arts. While there are certainly similarities between the two, and comparisons are going to be made, Punk Mambo is far more than a Constantine knock off.

With Punk Mambo #1, Cullen Bunn gives the reader unfamiliar with the character all they need to know about the character through the course of the issue as he sets up story’s driving factor very early in the book. By doing this, the comic never quite gives you time to breath as you’re left reeling from one story beat to the next. But despite the amount of story condensed into a single issue, you never feel overwhelmed – and most importantly, new readers should feel very welcome.

You remember the comics you read as a kid where you always knew what was going on, even after missing a few issues (or starting a series at #124)? That’s the feeling you’ll get with Punk Mambo #1. You know the character has relationships and a backstory, that she’s got a rich history waiting to be revealed, but you don’t need to know everything before starting this series. It’s a first issue, and Cullen Bunn has made sure anybody can read it.

Adam Gorham‘s art feels perfectly suited to the character; there’s a rough edge or two, and at times the action in the panels can threaten to overwhelm the eyes (though it never does), which couldn’t make me happier. Even Mambo’s loa, a formerly Stay Puft Marshmallow like creature has taken on a more dangerous and edge visage. The scenes where Mambo is unleashing her abilities upon her enemies is gloriously chaotic, and almost too brief.

And yet there are moments of peace within the chaos. Moments where the beauty of the art stands unfettered and unencumbered by the character’s anger and bravado. The effect is disarming.

To borrow from the character’s name, like any great punk song the comic grabs you by the scruff of your neck and screams at you. It takes you on a journey through viscous cannibals, spirits and possession within the first third of the comic. It’s fast, it’s dirty and it’s fucking awesome.

Story: Cullen Bunn Art: Adam Gorham
Story: 8.9 Art: 8.7 Overall: 8.8 Recommendation: Buy

Valiant provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review