Broken Frontier

Speakeasy Comics releases their first book, and if Atomika is any indication of what they have in store, they are a very welcome addition to the community.

God certainly is red, and Atomika #1 could be seen as its origin story. This is a science fiction/fantasy story in which Russia is the world’s superpower. They have gained domination of the realms of science and magic. They control the natural and supernatural. So much so, that they have the power and the tools to create their own gods. And create one they do. As much a story of a nation, Atomika is also the story of a child who grows with that nation; a child that is controlled by that nation; and in the end, the reader is almost left wondering whether the analogy is of the nation as a child growing into a superpower or the other way around.

Andrew Dabb has an interesting job to do on this book. As this is the first release of a new publisher, he has to capture the reader immediately and never let go. He does not fail. From the opening page to the last one, the book is enthralling. Not dialogue heavy at all, it is big on exposition. While most of the story is told from the perspective of the child as he grows, Dabb also throws in a couple samples from other perspectives as well to show the influence this particular story has in its world. The opening page seems to come from a religious book, and later in the story the reader is given glimpses from what appears to be a history text book. Oftentimes when writing an opening issue, a writer will feel forced to spell things out for the reader, to make sure that they understand everything that is going on as it happens. Dabb never falls prey to this. His pacing moves the story along nicely as he hands out bits and pieces of exposition. The idea of having a child narrator for this issue also adds to the mystery, as the reader could question their reliability. Rather than just a straight superhero or science fiction story, Dabb has given us a gloriously written modern fairy tale.

Artist Sal Abbinanti faces the same dilemmas as Dabb. He has to create an interesting world and hold the readers’ attention. He has to show them something unique. Like Dabb, Abbinanti never fails to deliver. He showcases his skills as a cartoonist, giving the reader exaggerated expressions and a very stylized world of machines and fantasy. He captures the narrator’s wide-eyed view of the world, and his panel design and page layouts match perfectly with the expressionism heavily found within this tale. His artwork highlights everything Dabb wants to convey with his script. His pacing never falters; and in a book that needs to be heavy with exposition, Abbinanti makes sure that it never feels wordy. It is truly a testament to his skill as an artist and storyteller. Buzz’s heavy inks add layers of depth and dimension to this already standout artwork, perfectly complimenting Abbinanti’s style. And in a book entitled "God is Red," the colors by Christina Strain and Beth Sotelo also come through in a big way. Red is obviously a major color theme in the book, but not once does it feel overused. Like Buzz’s inks, the coloring only serves to compliment the artwork and story. In a sense, this is almost the perfect opening book.

With the recent bankruptcies of Crossgen and Dreamwave, readers could easily be scared off from trying out a new company’s books. Don’t be. Atomika is too good not to jump in now and get on board. This has all the makings of an incredibly entertaining saga.

-Sam Moyerman