Amerikarate #3 Review

Amerikarate #3 

Writers: Corey Kalman and Brockton McKinney
Artist: Devin Roth
Letters: Dave Dwonch
Publisher: Action Lab Comics

A review by David Hildebrand

After reading Amerikarate #3, I immediately questioned if more people would like and respect Donald Trump if he had a bald eagle perched on his shoulder like the
President does here. I soon snapped back to reality and determined that he could have ten eagles on his shoulder and come nowhere close to carrying the charisma of the President in Amerikarate! That’s right! The latest issue of Amerikarate is out on shelves and this is a book you should be reading!

Last issue, Sam Kickwell was captured by the evil President of Neonia, leaving CIA agent Cynthia as his only hope of rescue. To do so, Cynthia has a lot of tasks in front of her. She has to win underground fighting tournament the Kumite… and kill the President! But that doesn’t prove to be too easy. Meanwhile, Kickwell is enduring a rather painful type of torture and we are finally introduced to the evil Neon of Neonia! I can’t say too much more without spoiling the outcome, but just remember sometimes a flag is all you need and always make sure your locker is closed as you walk away after talking shit to an opponent.

Once again, Kalman and McKinney deliver a nice balance of action and humor. The first page showing the President with the bald eagle on his shoulder reminded me why I’ve enjoyed this series so much. It’s fun! The story is very simple but I’m inescapably drawn to these characters. I love the whole eighties vibe, the bloody violence, the cheesy dialogue, the gratuitous nudity, it has it all! And each issue feels fresh. There hasn’t been one time where I have rolled my eyes or sighed at a joke or reference as if it has been overdone. This issue focuses a lot on Cynthia but the pair make her such a likeable character that you’re constantly cheering for her from the start.

Roth’s artwork is key to the story. He has done such a remarkable job illustrating the characters and the environments that surround them with vivid colors and sharp line work. Cynthia is sleek, colorful, and sexy. The villains she faces are big and menacing, giving off a David and Goliath feel. The Kumite arena in this issue looks very gladiator-esque with the feel of the Thunderdome in Mad Max. We’re just missing the elastic bands! Visually, Roth hits on all marks.

The Verdict:

Buy It! Three issues in and Amerikarate shows no signs of slowing down. It grabs your attention, smacks the hell out of it, and leaves it shouting “Thank you sir, may I have another?!” If you’re a fan of eighties action flicks, or just the eighties overall, then there is no reason not to check out this book. Go out and buy Amerikarate #3 along with all the cool variant covers! No, seriously, there are some really COOL variant covers! Now if you’ll excuse me, I am going to see how hard it is to acquire a bald eagle.