Review - Armor-I #1 (@evoluzionepublishing)

"If Novaden gets his hands on the vial the whole universe will be doomed."

Life as a high school student isn't lacking in drama and it's even tougher when you're transferring into a new school. Add to that having to deal with an alien arrival entrusting you with something important like in Armor-I #1 from Evoluzione Publishing and things get fun. The issue (and the back-up story "Baranzu") are written by Marcel Dupree, illustrated by Joel Cotejar, colored by Franco Riesco and lettered by E.T. Doleman.

A scientist named Kizen created a new substance, that is very dangerous. In order to make sure that it doesn't fall into the wrong hands, Kizen hides it on earth. Now Earth is under a secret invasion by forces that want Kizen's creation.

Armor-I #1 is written by Dupree as primarily a set-up issue, introducing the reader to Jason and the new world he's being exposed to. There's an intergalactic aspect to the book that Dupree leverages effectively to make it feel otherworldly. Jason is a very headstrong character who's content to do the right thing and Dupree is big on using that to his advantage in making him the focal point of the series. There's some pretty good back and forth throughout the issue as well that balances Jason's life with the impending disaster headed his way in terms of the alien race rapidly approaching Earth. By the end of the issue Dupree has enough plates spinning to keep the reader's intrigue going.

Cotejar's line styles are very stylized and emphatic. His work falls somewhere between cartoonish and comic book with characters sporting very defined musculatures and sharp-angled faces and bodies. The panels also boast bold outlines as well that frame the characters effectively, presenting them amidst empty gutters. There's also a great contrast between the high school and alien scenes that Cotejar uses well to keep the two worlds separate (even though they're careening towards one another. Riesco's colors are very bold and vivid in presenting a richly imagined world.

Armor-I #1 is a pretty fun--albeit formulaic--first issue that hits all the right notes. Jason is a strong lead character who's going to make for a good lead as the series progresses. Dupree's script is an easy read and doesn't feel like it's giving the reader too much too soon. Cotejar's illustrations are very clean and jump off the page, bringing the reader into the world. Armor-I #1 will appeal to fans of superhero stories with an interstellar twist thrown in for good measure.

Armor-I #1 is available now.