Skybourne #1 Review

Skybourne #1 
Writer: Frank Cho
Artist: Frank Cho
Colors: Marcio Menyz
Letterer: Ed Dukeshire
Publisher: Boom!

Reviewed by David Hildebrand 

Frank Cho’s Skybourne starts out with a bang and keeps the pedal to the metal for the rest of the issue. The first pages has a man fall from the sky, only to land flat on his back, opens his eyes, staring up, just to lay there and curse.  Fast forward 29 years later to present day and this is where the story continues.  I like a lot of action in comic books, that’s why we read, right?  We want to be entertained, but we also want to be able to cheer for the characters involved.  This first issue is strongly lacking the latter part.

So from the falling man in the sky, we jump to Grace Skybourne. Grace represents a group called the Mountain Top Foundation, she is there to claim an artifact that her group purchased.  The artifact just happens to be a sword named Excalibur and the group she is trying to claim it from, isn’t hearing a word she says.  Of course things get heated, there is the use of the word “Mitch” which is supposed to stand for “man-bitch” that I found amusing and then the violence begins!  It is brutal! Hands go straight through bodies, heads, whatever your little vicious heart desires, it happens. There is even an interesting Ken from Street Fighter uppercut that involves a fist impaling a bad guy.  I guess he’s a bad guy, nothing gets explained at all in this issue! This is what is frustrating.  The whole book plays out like it should be later in the story or another issue, I don’t know.  Then we hit the last page and I’m like ok….guess maybe next issue there will be clarity? Once again I don’t know.

Frank Cho, well known for his figure drawing, most notably the depiction of ladies that are well-endowed is at the helm for this book, doing double duty of writing and drawing.  I can’t say much for his writing, not much goes on.  We get one dimensional characters that don’t want to give up a sword.  The art is what saves this book and it’s a good thing considering that is heavily relied on with this issue.  The action is marvelous, it certainly doesn’t get boring and there is no lack of blood and guts.  I haven’t seen a guy meet a car in such a great fashion since 1987’s Robocop. I also like the colors in the book. They are vivid and make the action come to life, once again, a good thing considering.

Verdict:
Sky it? Get it? skip + buy = sky….Skybourne?  Oh, stop booing. I know you liked that clever word play.

I don’t know what to tell you. If you follow my reviews, you know I love my characters. There are no characters here for me to cheer for at the moment. I think Grace is a good guy, she is featured, her name is Skybourne, but maybe this book ends up being about evil agents. I DON’T KNOW!!!! With that being said, if you love action, then you’re going to want to check this out. There is plenty of blood for everyone to enjoy! As for me? I’m on the fence if I will check out the second issue or not.