The Mall #0 Review

The Mall #0 Review
Written by: Don Handfield & James Haick III
Illustrated by: Rafael Loureiro
Colors by: Dijjo Lima
Letters by: DC Hopkins
Edited by: Courtney Whittamore
Published by: Scout Comics

A review by Cory Webber

The Mall #0, a Free Comic Book Day book offered by Scout Comics (Long Lost), is touted as an ‘80s coming-of-age crime story. It centers around Diego, one of three kids fathered by the local mob boss. After he dies, he leaves a business to each child, which are a front for the mob’s more unscrupulous activities.

The Mall #0 is actually a pretty hefty issue considering it is a Free Comic Book Day offering. It comes off as Archie meets the mob, in a way. Instead of a bumbling, accident-prone protagonist, we get Diego, a shy, somewhat socially awkward teen with ties to the mob.

The story doesn’t cover a whole lot of ground, most of which takes place at the mall’s food court. However, the pace doesn’t seem bogged down. Rather, the writers do a good job fleshing out the main players and setting the stage for the upcoming series. None of the writing seemed wasted, even the pages filled with word balloons didn’t slow down the story and kept the pace chugging along.

While the art is simple, it evokes enough emotion and depth to write it off as a cookie cutter story. The colors were solid. The muted, almost dull, colors gave the issue a real ‘80s feel to it. As a result, the overall composition gave the entire issue a unified, clean feel. Also, the lettering was solid. It helped guide me effortlessly through the story.

Verdict: Read this series!

In conclusion, Mall #0 does a great job of setting up the upcoming series. It acts as a tasty appetizer that preceded the main course. If there was a “Top Upcoming Indie Publishers” list, then Scout Comics would be at the top. This FCBD issue also gave some quick peeks at 5 more upcoming series that can be expected this Summer & Fall, showcasing their diverse offerings. If they’re anything like The Mall and Long Lost, then we’re in for a treat.