Aftershock Reminds Me of Something…

Aftershock Comics logo

Aftershock Comics launched in April 2015 and shipped their first comic (Replica) in December of that year. They’ve currently put out 17 series and miniseries, and their strong point is how many of their creators and staff have long-running comic industry careers, with names like Mike Marts, Joe Pruett, Brian Azzarello, Paul Jenkins, Jimmy Palmiotti, and Amanda Conner.

Their logo looks like this:

Aftershock Comics logo

It’s eye-catching and nicely symbolic, but every time I see it, I remember this:

Zero Hour logo

I know, that DC crossover event was 20 years ago, but KC edited it, so it’s well-remembered in our house.

Have you tried any Aftershock comics? What did you think?



7 comments

  • James Schee

    I tried Insexts and it was a clever and sexy horror series at first. But as it went on and added more characters who also could turn into monsters, I got lost. Reading it in single form only once a month, I lost track of who was who, especially when it seemed like there were at least 4 women characters with similar attributes. (Super sexy, at times incredibly vicious, who could all turn into monsters, who were all attracted to each other)

  • Oscar Wilkes

    I really enjoyed Second Sight (topical thriller horror story) and Dreaming Eagles (Ennis’ WWII story of African American fighter pilots, brilliant art)

    InseXts started well and went off the boil quickly. Replica was a lot of fun too with great potential for more. Read the first two issues of Azzarellos comic and it was terrible.

    I’m looking forward to the Ellis book. Loving Trees, Bond and Injection (and his new e-novella Normal)

  • Insexts sounded interesting to me, but as you know, I’m not good with horror. I’m sorry to hear it spiraled out, although I tend to prefer closed-ended stories these days as well, graphic novels or miniseries over continuing series.

    Thanks for more updates, Oscar.

  • Jim Perreault

    I tried Captain Kid and didn’t care for it. It’s about a reverse Captain Marvel where a middle aged man turns into a younger hero.

    I could not relate to the main character at all, despite being about the same age. The guy has so many health problems, it felt like he is 30 years older than he is supposed to be.

    It’s not my cup if tea at all.

    Jim

  • I’m sorry to hear that. I was looking forward to trying that one.

  • kiwijohn

    I read Dreaming Eagles, Garth Ennis’s WW2 story of the Tuskegee Airmen, which I really enjoyed; I found it too be well-written and engaging and the artist could draw action scenes really well and they were easy to follow.

    Next I read an Aftershock primer (US$1), which had about the first 5 or so pages of their upcoming titles through to September.

    Based on that primer collection, I read the first issue of Rough Riders – about a (fictional) early 20th century US spy/heroic team lead by Teddy Roosevelt – as I liked the premise,

    I read the first issue of the Revisionist in the shop, as again, I liked the premise.

    To me though, the execution on both fell very short however. On the front cover of Rough Riders #1 (and in the promo material), we are shown the team. The first issue contents however, simply allude to some big (possibly alien) threat, show Teddy Roosevelt rescuing some garment workers from a fire (meant to be the Triangle Shirtwaist fire I believe) in an airship, then recruiting his first team member, and a big (but not in the least surprising) “reveal” of the next member. So, absolutely shocking pacing, pretty but mostly static art, hardly any story, no surprises, no big story hook to bring me back – so this is a ‘read from the library’ title for me.
    It didn’t help that the same week I read “Spooks” by Dorison, Nury & Rossi (published by Cinebooks in the UK) which has a very similar premise but is so so much better written and illustrated…

    I had similar problems with the first issue of The Revisionist – so, another ‘read from library title’ -assuming the reviews online are any good.

    What I’ve seen of Aftershock so far is bog standard US comicbook fare – in a crowded and competitive market I don’t see that offer anything new, and despite their creative roster they don’t seem to be as good as Image. They almost seem to be yet another “Hollywood script farm” company – fantastic premises, mediocre execution.

    So, my two cents worth anyway Johanna. I’d be curious to hear your views if you do read any of their titles, since you have pretty high expectations from your comics.

  • That is a struggle that any new genre comic publisher faces, it’s true — there is SO much material out there these days, and it can be very difficult to seem fresh or unusual. As for me trying them, well, I can’t keep up with talking about the stuff I know I’ll like and want to discuss, so I’m not really looking for anything to add at this point. But thank you for wanting to hear my opinions.

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