Review - BubbleGun #1

"Your alcohol level is only at .06 percent. Would you like to have another?" That's a line offered to those in a celebratory mood and what exactly they're celebrating could be anything from a new baby to a new job to a successful heist. All three generally make interesting stories, but it's the heist one that Aspen wants to tell in BubbleGun #1.

The first issue is written by Mark Roslan, with art by Mike Bowden, colors by David Curiel and lettered by Josh Reed.

In 2113, Neocapital serves as home to Inotech, a vast corporation with lots of shiny toys and research that others outside the company want to get their hands on. This prompts the hiring of Devyn and her group of thieves, a group that includes her sister Molli. Their most recent heist is bigger than even they expected though, forcing them to compete with a rival gang of thieves and draw the attention Craine Drow and the Vitradone syndicate.

At it's core, BubbleGun #1 is a heist story and Roslan has infused with all manner of roguish type. Devyn and Caprice each manage their own teams of thieves with various talents and both teams are often competing with one another for the same prize. It offers a ready made competition between the two that serves great conflict in the issue, even if Caprice's team isn't the real threat. The real threat seems to be Vitradone and they're intent on taking from Devyn what they took from Caprice.

BubbleGun's world is full of high stakes thievery, but what makes it really sing is that it's more or less told from the viewpoint of Molli. Molli is Devyn's little sister, new addition to the team and owner of a BubbleGun, which does what its namesake implies. She offers up the expected brashness of being on the "winning side," despite the fact that she's more or less a rookie on the team. She'll likely create even more conflict for the group based on her character alone.

Bowden's art has a Square Enix feel to it. That is, it looks like some of the old-school JRPGs for SNES like Secret of Mana or Chrono Trigger. It's not pure anime, but Bowden definitely draws upon that style for illustrating the characters, depicting some who seem larger than life and others are very stylized. It works for the setting of the book and helps establish the tone that the reader is entering a futuristic landscape rife with big corporations and even bigger stakes. Fight scenes are also handled well, flowing with the story.

For a first issue, BubbleGun #1 does a lot of good. It is a classic heist story, with classic heist competition and classic heist stakes, which means that you can expect fast-paced action and adventure. Molli's role as both the voice and loose cannon will guide the series where it needs to go, although it's likely she makes a mistake down the line that causes strife between her and Devyn. Right now though, enjoy knowing that there are characters who can generate mech arms from suitcases for a diversion.

BubbleGun #1 is in stores June 12 with interiors below.










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