#atomic pulp comics

Space Crusaders #1 Atomic Pulp Media 2019 Rex Dexter of Mars Written & Lettered by Christopher Mills Illustrated by Peter Grau Coloured by Matt Webb Lance Lewis Space Detective Written & Lettered by Christopher Mills Illustrated by Nik Poliwko Coloured by Matt Webb     A strange, alien sphere is on a collision course with Earth, and only Rex Dexter of Mars and his companion Cynde can stop it!     This makes me incredibly happy. While Stealth Comics covers that dark city in need of an Avenging Crusader this takes us on this outer space journey that feels like Adam Strange and Warlord of Mars had a love child. This is the kind of classic comic book that for a modern generation that looks, reads and feels like it could be a part of Ahoy Comics Mags. That two separate companies are able to put out his level and quality of work just shows you that the market has room for them. Granted this only available through IndyPlanet but then again you can get digitally or have a printed copy the choice is yours. Personally the Atomic Pulp line of books that I know of and have seen make me want to see more! I want this entire line to be available for everyone to see, hence me doing this right here.     In the vein of the old 80 page adventures this one is around 44, letters pages and such included, has two stories and both represent different aspects of life in space. For me this is proof positive that you don't need to have a universe that is dark and angst ridden to have a good, solid and successful book. Also the fact that these are taking characters that debuted in the 1940's and are keeping them true to their beginnings and yet making them fit seamlessly into today's world. So all around what we get here is solid storytelling with interesting “new” characters that entertain us with their old school adventures and personally it doesn't get much better than that.     The way that this is being told is brilliantly done. The story & plot development in how we see the sequence of events unfold and how the reader learns information showcases how well the book is structured. The character development is marvellous as these may be “established” characters and they feel that way, like complete fully formed individuals, and yet they are open and easily approachable. It has that old friend feeling about them that is as unexpected and delightful as it gets. The pacing is strong and as it takes us on a journey through the pages revealing the twists and turns it all creates this really great ebb & flow to the book.     I love, love, love the interiors here. Peter's linework and how he utilises the varying weights to show the attention to detail is incredible. He's a very accomplished visual storyteller and it's really nice to see that his works hasn't lost a step since he worked on the original Valiant titles, which incidentally is what got me hooked on them. The composition inside the panels and how the backgrounds are utilised bring us this great depth perception, scale and a sense of size and scope to the story. The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show a sensational eye for storytelling. The colour work we see is fantastic! The colour schemes here in the outfits are a throwback to the four colour days and it works better than I could have hoped for. The way we see space with the blacks, whites, greys and purples are stunning. God I have missed this representation.     The main story here is just perfectly done. I love the introduction of the characters, who they are, what they are about and what they do. The new pet and the new companion, all of these conspire to make this what it is, and that is stupdendous.     Oh the Lance Lewis story is another goodie! For me he feels like a low rent private dick that isn't able to catch a break. Down on his luck, a little seedy and along comes a dame in trouble. After hearing her tale and we learn the details on the case he's in. it is classic old school noir but it's in space and has a lot more going on that won't in a noir style story, or would you? The premise, the characterisation, the writing in general is a great, but deadly, addition to the series (or Jurassic Park). ​     The interiors here are very nicely done and again we see this really nice linework being utilised. The look, tone and feel of what we see adds a much element to the story and it fits in ways that you have to experience to truly understand. This is everything that comics should be and so much more, so get over to IndyPlanet and order yours now!

Sleuth Comics #1 Atomic Pulp Media 2019 Written & Lettered by Christopher Mills Pencilled by Don Secrease Inked by Rick Burchett Coloured by Matt Webb     A macabre menace stalks disco crime boss Marco Caine, and only the caped and cowled crimebuster known as the Black Owl can save him from “The Scream of the Silent Skull!”     I can't remember why I was on Indy Planet but that doesn't really matter because I found these comics that looked absolutely fantastic! So I contacted Christopher and we talked and now here we are with the first issue of Sleuth Comics featuring the Black Owl. The Black Owl was created in 1940 and much like Bruce Wayne he was a wealthy playboy who took up the career of a costumed crime fighter. Though the Owl was out of boredom they still have similar backgrounds and neither has superpowers but rely upon gadgets, science and his fighting prowess. Now for me personally this is what I think of as that 70's/80's revival kind of book and it's utterly spectacularly and brilliantly done.     I read this and thought hmm there's a bit of kitsch in the villains and in the Owl that reminded me of when the Caped Crusader was on the telly but it works here and what Christopher does with the writing is smartly done. The story & plot development that we see through the sequence of events unfolding and how the reader learns information is extremely well done. How we meet the characters and how that flows through the book and introduces us to other key players in the city is building a world that is starting to feel complete. The character development is superb. We get to know a bit about these folks and that leads to the interest factor being raised so we want to know more. Some back story is utilised incredibly well so that we want to know more about them. The pacing is great and how it takes us through the pages and reveals the twists and turns has this nice level of excitement attached to it. The ebb & flow is amazing and the overall structure of this book shows us that Christopher really does know his craft.     The interiors here are utterly stunning and how the look and feel is beyond expectations. I mean I feel like I am reading a book from my teenage years and that alone is worth weight in gold. The linework here is exquisite and how the varying weights are utilised to bring out the attention to detail is marvellous. The different techniques utilised here is also incredible to see. Would I like to see more backgrounds being utilised, yes but, but, they are utilised in a way to work with the composition inside the panels to show us depth perception, scale and bring a sense of size and scope to the book. I am in love with the faces here, the linework in them and how we see expressions it's just gorgeous. The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show a masterful eye for storytelling. The colour work is really nice to see. While it has the feel of old school colouring there are great uses of hues and tones in what we see.     This is a stunningly good book. In every way shape and form it's what we want in comics once again. Gone is the gritty dark and full of violent deaths and instead there is lightness with a kind of hope that just permeates into the readers' skin. The writing is spectacular and the interiors are damn near perfect, including the hair on his chest,and this is a modern take on a classic era in comics and it's bloody well brilliantly. ​     You can only get this on Indy Planet and the best part is you can digitally or physically so order copies for yourself or for your store you won't be sorry and you'll crave more.