THE UNIQUES #1
STORY AND ART BY: COMFORT LOVE
ADAM WITHERS
LETTERING BY: JEFF BRZOZOWSKI
COLOR SEPARATIONS BY: OUR FIGHTING FLATSMEN
We, here, at CosmicBookNews decided to celebrate the Independent comic book scene in our feature aptly named Declaration of Independents (DOI).
We did this to give the Indie creators a chance to really show off their work and a chance to get noticed. We’ll put up reviews, interviews, news and previews of whatever is sent to our doi@cosmicbooknews.com inbox.
We are just about to start our DOI second week and have been quite busy and pleased with the results. Whatever we get, is put up (and if we haven’t gotten to you yet - we will) on a first come first serve basis in addition to the articles we go out on our own and do.
Today, as I went down the list in the DOI inbox I came upon an e-mail from a husband and wife team, Comfort Love and Adam Withers creators of The Uniques. They gave an introduction and a link to reviewable copies of their comics. To say I was impressed is an understatement. It is creators like this that make me glad to have done this “Declaration of Independents” as I have just come across a gem of a book. I have read through the first two issues and have actually stopped to write this - instead of reading the third, in order to get my thoughts and feeling down. It shows just how much I like this book and how good it really is as I wanted to let you all in on this. It is that good.
If you haven’t read this, this is the best darn book you are not reading.
So what’s it about?
I don’t think I will be able to do it justice, so why don’t you go read it for yourself. They offer the first issue, FORTY PAGES, free to download at their website: uniquecomics.com.
Okay, now onto the review:
RUNDOWN:
Fifteen year old, Hope, daughter of two of the most famous superheroes in the world, Mentor and Kinetic who are part of the super team, the League of Seven, and just happened to save the entire world a year ago from nuclear holocaust, finishes up with some light work by taking down a few thugs.
She’s late to meet her parents at the UN, who on the one year anniversary of their heroic feat, are addressing the leaders of the world in the hopes they can all get together [as they did one year ago] and make peace. Instead of using the “Uniques” as weapons use them for “beacons of growth” for the human race.
The two opposing heroes of the nuclear conflict, Countryman and Comrade, are shown shaking hands while the UN assembly claps in support. All the heroes are present, along with all the leaders of the nations, witnessing this historic event.
A glowing man appears out of nowhere and begins to laugh. Various heroes immediately set out to take him down. Kinetic can’t get through to his mind, none of the heroes can get to the glowing man in time, and she and Mentor embrace and declare their love for one another.
New York City explodes.
People throughout the world are shown bleeding and dieing, from babies and regular people to Uniques.
Hope awakens in a hospital bed two years later.
She is not actually in a hospital but a government airship and she uses her powers, telepathy and telekinesis, in addition to her martial arts skills to escape. She finds her sister, who chose to be “normal” and decides to continue where she left off as the hero, Telepath.
The government is aware of her escape and wants her to join their team. They send someone to “talk” with her, the new Countryman (the previous being killed in the NYC blast). She turns him down getting the feeling that something is not right even though when she read his mind it seemed to be the truth. Instead of joining this team, she decides to do things on her own the way she wants and sets out to create her own team of Uniques.
THOUGHTS:
There is a lot more to this then what I went through above as issue number one was forty pages. So be sure to check it out!
This story is well thought out and very well written. A very character driven story. Creators Comfort Love and Adam Withers really clue you into the characters, their powers and their world rather well. We are not “told” what is what, Love and Withers use the correct writing techniques and artistic styles to “show” us. The characters really do have the feel of genuine and individual personalities and with the the Sages' interactions, a family. The reason this is done so well is obviously reflective of the relationship the two creators have, being husband and wife.
I thought the art was terrific as well - especially the coloring. Well done. The “inks” could use some slight-slight improvement -- or the black outlines around the characters -- as they seemed rather thick in some places. Also, the font used in the word balloons, I thought, could be improved, especially the Airport scene where the Sages’ are communicating telepathically. However, that could just be the review copy or first issue “kinks.” Either way, not a big deal at all, but I thought I should mention what I noticed.
There also is a “mature” element to this book with the occasional swearing and bum shot. If you are or ever have been a teenager, nothing new.
The story has me hooked as well. A bit conspiracy, throw in catastrophe, young superheroes - rebellious ones at that, and you can’t go wrong with The Uniques. Be sure to give this a try and I guarantee that you won't be disappointed.
