I did a call out to comic creators asking if they wanted their material reviewed. The writer of El Krudo answered, and even though I said I would be more than happy to pay for the comic, he graciously sent me what he had for free. Now that the disclaimer is out of the way, let’s get on with the review.
The Story
The story’s set-up pulls you into and shows you around the camp as you follow a mosquito. The banter between the soldiers is convincing and somewhat accurate to the period. When the action starts, you are thrown into the middle of it, and the story pulls you along until we meet the protagonist of the comic, EL Krudo. There is some exposition as to how this primate came to be, but it is short, sweet, and to the point. They weave it into the story and don’t pull you out to do it. This is a solid start to a series.
The Artwork
The first thing that hit me was the detail in the linework and how the art team brought the Vietnam jungle to life. The painstaking detail was excellent and had me staring at each panel to see if I had missed anything. I even did a comparison between snapshots of the actual jungle and the artwork. I was blown away.
The shading is masterful, from the shadows in the camp to the subtle lighting of a cigarette in a dark room. They showed me how much they have put into their work. For a moment, I forgot it was a comic.
The artwork was also consistent, and each character was unique. The coloring captures the grittiness of the Vietnamese jungle during that time. They really did their homework.
The Lettering
This lettering adds to the mood and the action. The kerning is consistent, and the font is easy to read. The contrast of the background color to the font in the boxes is easy on the eyes. The letting used for the onomatopoeia was wonderfully done and fit the action the word conveyed.
The Rating
This is a solid start to a new comic. The concept is unique. The execution is on point, and the art shows the dedication the team has to their craft. The lettering is chef’s kiss. This is my first ever 5 out of 5 espresso shots.
Until Next time,
Anissa “Maddy” Walker
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