#thugboy

So as I’m learning in my journey through comic books, there are a number of superhero universes out there. Some don’t even have their own movie franchise. One of these is the Emp-verse. It’s not cause it’s not good. It’s fantastic.

I was happy to see that this first issue of this three issue run had a little introduction page on the back of the cover. There I was formally introduced to Empowered the “superheroine with a really fragile ‘supersuit’ and even MORE fragile self-esteem.” Also, her lovah THUGBOY, her bestie NINJETTE, and the SUPERHOMEYs. That’s right! Where has this been all your life? In all seriousness though. Super appreciated that intropage. Thank you Adam Warren.

Even more exciting, the next character we meet is the secondcharacter in the title, the Soldier of Love or as she calls herself, Soldado del Amor. That’s right! She’s Latin. And speaks Spanish in the book. And has a magical pink pangolin! I”m in love. And that’s actually her magical power. She makes people fall in love. Sexy hot, gotta-have-you-now kinda love.

In fact, that’s what happens when Empowered finds out that some of the superhomies have hooked up, jilting their current lovers in the process. She then has to talk down, NIGHT GIANT, as he roams the streets drunk sad that his lover gave it up to another cape (superhero).

As the book goes on we continue to see this happening among the capes though Ninjette and Empowered don’t seem to be affected by the high level of get-it-on going around. (THUGBOY does not appear in the pages of this issue so Emp doesn’t get any.) Some of the relationships do little more than start gossip. Some however start storms and almost all the capes find themselves so involved in their new relationships that they’re all glued to their phones. Emp and Ninjette are suspicious and Emp announces that this is clearly a LOVE ATTACK. Karla Diaz’s final panels show the Soldier of Love on the phone with an unknown client promising to bring it up even more.

 I was mesmerized by this world. Frankly I want to know more about all the capes (such as and not limited to:MEchzalcoatl, Yummy Mummy, Bandido Tiempo, Raw Dog...). The introduction took no time at all and I was completely bought into the characters so I can say that if you have no idea about this superhero universe, this is a great jumping off point. The art is fantastic, another shout out to Karla Diaz and Adam Warren who is weaving a great, if somewhat dialogue heavy, tale. I’ll definitely be reading this in its entirety and I can’t wait.