Comic Review: Incarnate – Issue 1

INCARNATE – ISSUE#1 (COMIC)

Written by Nick Simmons
Penciller : Nick Simmons
Inker : Matt Dalton
Colorist: Brian Buccellato
Assistant Artists: Nam Kim, Ben Harvey & Shi Hua Wang of STUDIO IL
Letterer: Rob Steen
Published by Radical Comics
Publication Date: 2009
Format: color
Price: $4.99

SYNOPSIS:From Nick Simmons, son of rock legend Gene Simmons and star of A&E’s GENE SIMMONS FAMILY JEWELS, comes a revolutionary new take on the undead. They cannot die. They feel no pain. They hunger for human flesh. They are Revenants. Centuries ago, the Revenant known as Mot was worshipped as a God. Now, he walks the Earth in search of a purpose to his immortality – but when a secret society discovers a way to kill Revenants, Mot and his fellow immortals must make a choice: Hunt or be hunted. Nick Simmons’ breakout American Manga title reveals a world that challenges even the imagination, planting its tongue firmly in cheek, then biting it off…And swallowing it.

REVIEWNick Simmons seems to making the rounds these days. It’s not surprising under the guise of “the demon” himself, however Nick has one thing going that his father hasn’t and that’s a talent for drawing. Released under Radical comics the title debut is called “Incarnate”. In a time when vampires are far from slowing down and the interest grows with more and more fascination we have another offering to the world of the undead.

Incarnate is best described at least in art styling as a cross between mainstream and manga art. While i don’t know the history of the creator it seems he at least was heavily influenced by Manga but not enough to go full throttle. That’s ok though, as the art still kicks ass and jumps into your lap with violent splendor and vampire armageddon.

Very simple our tale begins with the returning Mot. A vampire leader who wears the body of a emo teen and above all is quite confident in his existence. He has returned from a few decades of what we assume to be sleep. His reason comes in the form of something felt, something brewing within the alleys and city streets. In the meantime his vampire buds have been doing just fine. Feeding when they need to, living in obscurity and using there strength and gift as a way of life. As he revisits his old friend Connor who is sub servant to Mot’s wisdom, he is informed of Connor’s state of existence, constant moving and part time job as a hit man of sorts. Not a bad side job for Vamps. They head out to visit another acquaintance Ripley. Which leads them to an abandoned warehouse full of like species who call themselves the “Clubhouse of forgotten Gods”. Urban and streetwise, this is the local vampire lair and Mot has returned to see what all the fuss is about.

Sanctum an organization who have existed though time in various forms are the enemies to the vampires. History dates back to the witchhunt days and beyond. This” Sanctum” has been tracking them with what they are saying is a weapon that “can” kill the unkillable. Mot scoffs at this until they come knocking on there door for an all out war of vampires versus an army of soldiers. This army is lead by the rather pretentious Vincent, who is at home with carrying only a scythe and a confident demeanor.

As expected the vampires retaliate with pretty convincing force, killing off soldiers with easy and taking in the bullets fired like an outbreak of bee stings. Mot of course is right there in the thick of it taking it all on and killing off victims one by one. In fact the war seems pretty one-sided for a entity that cant get killed. This comes to ahead when mot takes a strike form vincent and finds out who Vincent really is.

Alot of action, alot of blood shedding….”Incarnate” does the trick and proves that Nick Simmons can hold his own when it comes to comic production. labeled as 1 of 3 this small TPB is off to a great start in what we know will only get bloodier as the mayhem continues. A fine release that is perfect for the vampire inspired bunch of emo kids who also are hog wild in there Twilight sector of life. Oh ya and not a bad read for the rest of us who just like a cool story combined with cool art enuff said!

Check out other books at: Radical Comics
Available at Radical Comics