Armored #1
Writer: Michael Schwartz
Artists: Ismael Hernandez
Letters: Ferran Delgado
Editor: Chris Stevens
Publisher: Clover Press
The launch of a new, spooky series legendary GOOSEBUMPS creator R.L. Stine calls “A fun read and a great new twist on old-fashioned horror"!
Orphaned teen Andy's parents disappeared mysteriously. Now, he's just been adopted by a quaint family living in the countryside. What could go wrong?
Screenwriter Michael Schwartz (ZOMBIE TOWN, GNOME ALONE) makes his comics debut alongside rising artist Ismael Hernandez, whose fully painted pages '...use colour brilliantly, in both modelling and storytelling' according to industry titan Frank Quitely.
Superstar artists Nick Pitarra and Jae Lee provide instantly iconic covers for the debut issue GHOSTBUSTERS icon Dan Aykroyd says is 'fear-packed, suspenseful...(it) entices us to continue reading more to come."
32 pages
Full Color
6.625” x 10.187”
Score:
★★★★☆ (4/5)
It's appropriate that the screenwriter of 'R.L. Stine's Zombie Town' releases his first-ever comic book series that invokes the same middle-grade suspense stories of the legendary writer. Michael Schwartz and artist Ismael Hernandez create a suspenseful mystery in the charming and intriguing 'Armored.'
You can't help but feel the same eerie uneasiness you get from reading R.L. Stine's books as you do in this wonderfully spooky tale. After a shocking opening sequence, Schwartz introduces us to the orphaned Andy who keeps to himself but is rightly obsessed with solving his parent's disappearance. The cops may have given up but he's determined to find out what happened. He's been adopted by a nice couple who have their own trauma and taken to the English countryside. There he has to adjust to a new school and new kids, as the school reels from a recent tragedy. This all leads Andy to discover a supernatural power in the form of a magic armored suit that will change his life entirely.
It's a charming coming-of-age story, a drama, a supernatural thriller, and horror all in one and it's deftly written by Schwartz. The opening scene will grab readers, the heartwarming adoption of Andy will tug at the heartstrings, and the exciting magical reveal will spark the imagination. 'Armored' is the whole package. And of course, there's a thrilling cliffhanger. It's appropriate for pre-teens and up.
Ismael Hernandez' style is very distinctive with the use of watercolors. The tone is somewhat somber as in an overcast day, the kind of cloud that hovers with tension throughout the story. It's the proper look and feel for this story but it does have some lighthearted moments. It's amazing what Hernandez can do when the action is heightened and suddenly a burst of color or a great use of white space. This is the perfect occasion where the script and art are in sync.
'Armored' was the product of a hit Kickstarter campaign and with good reason. It has all the elements of a great supernatural story that will transport readers. Totally recommended.
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