Broken Frontier

So Super Duper was Brian Andersen’s first comic work, which I rave-reviewed here, and it’s a book that has since begun serialization online at the Newsarama blog (you can read the ongoing SSD adventures by clicking this  - updates every Tuesday and Thursday).  Looking to stretch his wings beyond the SSD universe, though this might easily (and perhaps does) fit within the already-established framework despite its “one-shot” and “stand-alone”  status, Andersen scripted Reignbow and Dee-Va.  It’s a book that is, believe it or not, even more whimsical, irreverent, and charmingly unselfconscious than what has come before.

Being a one-off, the story keeps things simple: two heroes, tall stud-muffin fire-haired Reignbow and his ballsy gal-pal Dee-Va (with a look and attitude to match her ebonics-inspired title) stumble upon a warehouse filled with blood-thirsty vampire men.  Between bouts of banter and trying to one-up the other with displays of super powers and James Bond-like gadgets, the entire ish is one very lengthy throwdown, though the action isn’t the only draw.  Who are these vamps?  Who are Reignbow and Dee-Va for that matter?  What are they all doing fighting each other?

Unlike So Super Duper, RaD-V isn’t centered about a complicated, mysterious plot: there’s a plot point the entire issue is leading towards, but it’s a straight-forward kind of device.  Instead, this book is Andersen pulling a Matrix style Neo-vs.-a-zillion-Agent-Smiths, only with a large dollop of trademark Andersen dialogue and a lot less CGI.  Clocking in at 35 pages of story, the one-shot is impressive for its ability to stick to a single subject and not let up until the back cover is closed, but the vampires are vast in numbers, and our heroes decked-out with razor-blade glue-on eyelashes, the ability to channel pop stars for dance/martial arts hybrid takedown maneuvers, amongst other sundry ass-kicking capability.  The banter is light-hearted and the characterization, if not complex, is never boring.

Celina Hernandez (of Studio Chibi fame) steps in to relieve Andersen of art duties, and her manga-flavored style, highly reminiscent of Lea Hernandez’s Clockwork Angels, suits the book to a “T”.  Under her pencil, pen, and digital hues, Reignbow is delightfully playful and flamingly free, while Dee-Va captures both high-end glitz and street-sidewalk faire (yes, that was an Oliver and Co. reference—deal).  Given that the story is action-oriented and chock-full of outlandish powers and combat-enhancing knick-knacks, the eastern flavor of Celina’s art enhances the effect, and the natural cutesiness of the characters, even as enemies are decapitated and gouged through the midsection, ties it with a neat little bow.

Reignbow and Dee-Va may not be hefty reading, and it certainly isn’t epic, but it’s a single moment in time, a single fight, a single evening, a single location, all played out fancifully and entertainingly.  For those thinking of giving Brian’s work or CBG Comics a whirl, or any fan of Lea Hernandez and American manga in general, the book will make for a natural, oddly unforgettable experience.  I’m not even sure I can qualify that last part.  Like most Andersen books, you just need to read it and find out for yourself.

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For more information on Reignbow and Dee-Va and So Super Duper as well as other CBG Comics, head on over to http://www.sosuperduper.com

For more Celina Hernandez, visit her by clicking on her name.