Review - Apocalypse Al #1

Review by Paul Fiander
If you are going to be saving the world without ever needing to leave city limits then you could do a lot worse than Los Angeles. 
“I love L.A. Beverly Hills on one side, demonic creatures on the other. Sometimes it’s hard telling the two apart.”

- ALLISON “AL” CARTER
This is the first introduction many will have to Alison Carter aka Apocalypse AL. The cover though does give away one surprise for Al is really Alison. I love the way that this is made fun of in one particular panel when Al is explaining her heritage going back through the generations. Although a little tongue in cheek the way strong female leads are depicted still needs some work in media but at least comics are starting to embrace a female led generation of creators and book leads.

As for the rest of the book it really does have its cheek being pushed out due to a enormous tongue sitting there. The best way I think to describe Al is by calling her a funny take on the noir detective we have met in our travels on numerous occasions. This is a funny book and if you go in with that in mind it’s a lot of fun. Alison is smart funny and capable, her skills seem to cover everywhere from Marksmanship to lucid dreaming and beyond.

The Issue itself starts off with a bang as Al is faced with a world eater, a Monstrous looking Demon and his summoner. This is the appetiser for the main event that happens later in the issue. As with most Noir stories it starts with a person entering the PI’s office and offering them a deal too good to be true. So from here our heroine is on a chase to find out who holds the Book of Keys and keeps altering people’s dream state and so lives.

For an opening issue the story is looking great (long may it continue) this is mirrored by the art. It’s vibrant and the differing character models all seem fantastic. With the way the story has been set up this could be a satisfying mini but it feels like it could build into an on-going without any problems. For now it’s just time to sit back and enjoy the roller-coaster of a ride that Al is leading us on.
To Catch up with spoiler filled art from the first Six pages of Apocalypse Al #1 check out our gallery. Warning there will be spoilers so be prepared to be spoiled.

If oddball noir is your thing then this maybe for you.

McBlack #1


Its darker and more vulgar but McBlack does create a new direction for the noir detective.
The Comic is available in both print and digital from Image comics. Follow this link for more details.
Images courtesy of Image Comics
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