Broken Frontier

Jason Martin’s Super Real is a sleeper indy hit that deftly weaves together the extremes of reality TV and superhero comics.

Three issues in we have met the cast, the powers behind Geniburton and X-TV and we have learned what the cast are capable of … now Holly Hood (24 year old waitress and go-go dancer), Michael Dasquea (21 year old aspiring pro body builder and wrestler), Kityana Bliss (19 year old model), Warren Campbell (29 year old struggling club promoter and trance music producer) and Shana Payne (23 year old failed dotcom entrepreneur) are ready to face the ultimate crisis; they are ready to face the comic book industry!

The caliber of creators who have contributed to this special demonstrate the esteem in which this book is held in indie circles. Jason Martin handles the script on all five stories, as well as the art on the second chapter. The first chapter features Holy Hood facing off against the Amazing Amazon herself. Martin’s script is full of bravado and an unexpectedly bloody ending, yet the true highlight is the stark and gorgeous artwork of Boo.

Jason Martin handles the writing and the art for the second chapter in which two Super Real members unexpectedly go head-to-head. Martin’s artwork retains the cartoony flair that characterizes Super Real, but here his art is less clean than in the regular book. The strength of this chapter lies in the interesting angles and character placements that demonstrate the kinetics of the fight scene.

I was seriously challenged to pick a favourite sequence from this book, yet Chapter 3 is it when Kityana Bliss takes on Pokey-Zap, a Pokemon/ Digimon/ Dragonball Z inspired blob with a shocking power. Edward Pun delivers gorgeously slick lines as the hot model faces off against the villainous blob. Providing an interesting twist on the fart joke phenomenon, this chapter is one of the funniest in the book; Martin’s comedic writing skills get stronger with each issue.

Indie legend Jim Mahfood pits Warren Campbell up against stand-ins for mock marvelous mutants. Mahfood’s stark work and hand drawn letters deliver real indie cred to the book while Warren gives the X-Geners the finger (literally!).

The final story delivers some of the strongest art yet as failed dotcom-er Shana Payne faces Vampblade, a riff of the much-maligned 90s bad girl. Daniel Campos gives Pun a run for his money with strong, heavily inked art that looks like a mix between 1970s and 1990s Marvel. This was the only confusing story in the book. After three reads I am still perplexed as to how Shana defeated Vampblade, but I put this down to the fact that I am writing this review at 10:30 P.M.

Martin has rewarded his dogged fans with a light, entertaining special that gives indie talent a chance to shine. He is a true champion of independent comics, and Super Real is a winning read every time.