Gung Ho #1 Review

Gung Ho #1

Writer: Mike Loniewski
Artist: The Mico
Letterer: Marco Della Verde
Publisher: Red Fox Comics

Review by Greg Brothers

I love all sorts of comics. From superheroes to fantasy, to horror to military. What I love even more than comics is when I get a chance to check out an indie comic. To be honest, some of the best comics I have read have been indie comics. These are comics that are made purely for the love of the genre. So, when I was offered a chance to read and review Gung Ho #1 from Red Fox comics, I jumped at the chance.

In Gung Ho #1 we are first introduced to The Champions who defend the world from the Animal Terrorist Hector and his band of evil doers. Of course, The Champions need the world’s help, and they say that if you see something, say something. Fast forward five years and Hector has been defeated and one of his former captains, Gung Ho, is secretly working for the government. Gung Ho is tasked with saving a famous actress from the clutches of the most recent evil doer to come to town. Although the mission is successful, Gung Ho gets none of the credit since animals are still considered dangerous. What happens next is a combination of twists, turns and backstabbing that would make any fan of government conspiracy excited.

Early on in Gung Ho #1 it becomes obvious that the creative team is attempting to connect the story to real life, both past and present–with the McCarthyism themes of reporting your animal neighbors to the hateful speeches encouraging the animals to rise up, all evoke thoughtful comparisons. Although the book is ripe with connections to political issues, it never feels forced. Instead, Gung Ho #1 creates a commentary that allows you to look upon the work and enjoy the narrative while thinking about the real-world implications. I’m going to tread lightly here as I do not want to give away the end of the book. But, one of the things that I thought was important to the integrity of Gung Ho #1 is that we do not get the happy ending that some may have hoped for. Instead we get a world which may be worse off than it was before Gung Ho tried to stop the menace that was plaguing the world. To me, this adds to the realism of Gung Ho #1 in its reference to the problems in society today.

I always struggle when it comes to describing the art within comic books. However, I know what I like, and I really like the art in Gung Ho #1. The animals are larger than life but not so much so that it is distracting. The emotions that are conveyed through the different facial expressions pop from the page at you. It is not something that is easy, especially when dealing with animal characters. The character designs are unique, while still allowing the reader to easily identify which animal is being represented. Additionally, there is a smart use of color as some of the darker scenes are lightened up by how the characters and street lights are colored.

Verdict: Buy it!

Gung Ho #1 is a great read. The dialogue is approachable and thought-provoking, while avoiding the bludgeoning that some books will hit you with. The comparisons to real world events and people keep you engaged throughout the entire book. Meanwhile, the end will have you asking what’s next. Character designs are at times breath taking, and several times I found myself stopping mid-read just to enjoy the art. Do yourself a favor and go get a copy of Gung Ho #1 from Comixology.