A Softer Apocalypse

By: Nick Butler and Greg Stolze

Read: 21 October 2015

So, I got this from Kickstarter as a backer reward, and while it was good, it was not what I was expecting. Not sure what I was expecting, but since I forgot I had backed it (I was supposed to get the reward last year, but there was an issue with the coloring) until it arrived two days ago…

So, story.

The story is short, but as it is the first in a new, hopeful comic book series, that is to be expected. There is alot packed in here, and yet I am left feeling a bit confused. Girl waits at the edge of Ranger Road for a doc who does illegal bio-‘upgrades’. Girl has her own reasons for wanting them, and even though she can’t ‘pay’, she’s willing to work her upgrades off.

But she’s not the only one wanting an upgrade.

Guy was implemented in some dirty dealing, and is trying to wipe the slate clean. But he’s not so willing to pay what the mad doctor wants…

Things get deeper as they are attacked by militarized police in an APC (Armored Personnel Carrier – probably a Stryker). You know things have gotten bad when cops are wearing body armor and driving up-armored vehicles. Both get away, but not before getting the shit beat out of them…

And girl makes some inquires, gets checked by a real doctor, and makes what may be some bad decisions (as if the whole mess wasn’t a bad decision). Aaaaand, end scene.

I am left a bit confused, like… confused. Like when you go to your vet, and the building has been cleared out without a notice of where they moved to, or any sign that they did move, and didn’t go out of business (true story). Yeah. Like that.

The art is good, but not spectacular – not something I’m going to make my wallpaper on my computer screen or anything, but it was competent. There was the bridge scene that was okay, but didn’t translate well – there was a truck, and a bridge, and it looked a bit like a kids’ magazine cut-out collage – although I knew what the artist was going for. Then there was the scene in the sinking APC with the girl that was really good – you could almost hear her gasping for breath as she surfaced! Most of it, though, was a delicate balance between the two.

They sent me two copies, too. The darker, ‘Made in China’ comics-quality one, and the signed, brighter, upgraded one. Both are beautiful, and will get bagged-and-boarded, only to be trotted out from time to time to show off to other comics geeks. But not sure yet about how I feel about this one. I guess it will depend on whether I can get my hands on future editions…

Read the Kickstarter page here: