Review: CRITTER #1 – GeekMundo

CRITTER #1

Tom Hutchison – Story / Fico Ossio – Art & Colors

The newest re-mastered debut from Aspen’s Big Dog Ink imprint has arrived!

As a young girl, Cassia grew up as a tomboy who learned karate, ran track and took gymnastics. One day when a little girl is kidnapped for ransom, she finds out that she might have what it takes to be a superhero. But, little does she know that being a hero was always in her blood!

This is a little under a week late, but I still wanted to review Aspen Comics’ Critter #1 for you guys, because we really try to support other publishers.  And a variety of comics is the spice of a geek’s life.  Without further ado…

My first impression of Cassia aka Critter was a little mixed.  I liked the concept of a young, college-age tomboy who voluntarily kicks ass–she literally changes into her superhero threads before going in to kick villainous asses–while trying to go to school, and maintain friendships.  But as is the case with many Aspen titles, you’re going to get some overtly or covertly sexual innuendo, and lots of eye candy.

Let me break it down for you.  At one point, once Cassia leaves the hospital–she got her ass kicked by a guy in a yellow jacket, named Yellow Jacket, who can turn parts of his body into stingers–and returns to her dorm, the stereotypically nerdy kid wearing a lab coat–he’s super smart, guys–steals one of her panties.  Yes, her knickers, Vicky Secrets, skivvies… You get it by now.  For the life of me, I still can’t figure out what the hell this has to do with the story, aside from the fact that maybe, just a tiny maybe, Hutchison was trying to convey hormones running wild.

Aside from a really nice fight between Yellow Jacket and Cassia and Rookie–another female superhero–the most interesting part was the introduction of Paradox, a shadowy, mysterious “visitor from Earth’s future”.  I don’t want to spoil it for you, but read all the way to the end, after Hutchison’s letter to readers, and you will find out what Paradox is ultimately up to.  I will say he reminds me of Vision in the Marvel Universe.

Ossio did a fine job with the art.  It may sound weird, but it reminded me of some of the early Archie comics I grew up reading, but with a more colorful, modern, and stylish twist.  The colors were vibrant, and multi-layered, and the whole thing was appealing to the eye, visually speaking.  But we all know art can only carry a comic so far.  So, we’ll see what happens with Critter #2 next month.