Broken Frontier

Amy is a lonely girl and bullied at school but after a supernatural meeting with an entity named Lilith, she finds herself with new powers and deadly new enemies.

The Hit Pack is a beautifully designed and executed comic in an innovative format. Bought online for only $1.70, this comic is easily viewed on screen in 1024x768 resolution. The lush colours and expressive panels are not enough to cover up an inadequate story although the groundwork is there for significant improvement in the future. The main problem with this comic is its unsteady tone; is it a comedy or a drama? It is not especially funny but it seems as if it wants to be and the drama elements are only in their initial stages. Nevertheless, for $1.70, this comic is well worth a look for the format and artwork alone.

Amy is bullied at school and at home. Her mother is beaten by her drunken boyfriend and Amy has no idea what to do about it. One night she has a bizarre dream and is visited by a mysterious figure named Lilith. Amy is given a task– to find Lucifer. This leads Amy down a path of power and danger.

The component parts of this story should add up to a successful comic; the grand concept, the sympathetic character and an amusing encounter with assassin priests. For some reason it doesn’t quite click. I feel disappointed that I learned more about the comic in its press material than I did from the actual comic. While there was a fun sequence of violence and humour between Amy and the priests, it can’t pull the issue together by itself.

The art on the other hand, is very impressive. It has a style that is reminiscent of Humberto Ramos; all large hands and cartoon-like features. The colours are dynamic and they are a joy to see fill the computer screen. The action scenes are given a good amount of punch and the panels are designed well so as to fit on the screen.

The creators of this comic should be applauded for utilizing a new format in a professional way. The digital download is an attractive option for reading comics and is one that should be investigated further. Those on a dialup connection should be prepared for a lengthy download time however!

While the story of this comic has not grabbed me completely I am impressed enough by the art and the format to give this comic’s second issue a serious look when it is released.

The comic can be purchased at www.thehitpack.com.