The Unthinkables #1

The Unthinkables #1

Unlikely Heroes Studios 2021

Story/Lead Character Designs by Paul Hanley

Pencilled, Ik Assists & Designs by Ian Richardson

Inked by Julien Hugonnard-Bert

Coloured by Simon Gough

Lettered by Thomas Mauer

Earth's supes just got WTF pwn'd.

It's up to Max Frenzy and F.I.S.T. to assemble a mismatched selection of leftover "talent" to save us. First-round picks include boozy ex-Soviet super-spy Bloody Mary, psychic Scottish soccer hooligan RiotGrrl, crusty cockney teleporter Noddy Blinkins and,uh... the White Devil (don't ask). Those are the nice ones. Don't get us started on the genocidal fish-man and the suicidal robot-nuke.

I like these folks, Unlikely Heroes, they have some wonderful ideas and a few really great titles that I a Super! fan of. So when they ask me to review some stuff for them, the answer is always a resounding YES and I am never disappointed. This one opens up in such a fashion that you are mesmerised by what you see as the setting seeps into your mind and you understand the gravity of the situation. That two-page spread is beyond a doubt one of the most impact moments around, and the funniest because of the dialogue which has absolutely nothing to do with the real scene but it adds this element of levity that makes you giggle involuntarily.

I am a big fan of the way that this is being told. The story & plot development that we see through how the sequence of events unfold as well as how the reader learns information is presented exceptionally well. Just the sequence of how things unfold has that ring to it that makes it feel like a natural progression. The character development that we see is great and while the Army guy, presumably Max, is so wonderfully fleshed out through his actions it should come as no surprise that each of the characters we meet are fleshed out that way as well. The dialogue is great don’t get me wrong and it’s fun to see how the characters speak it’s really what they do that defines how we see them. The pacing is superb and as it takes us through the pages revealing this world, these characters and the story it will feel like a tale as old as time but it’s so much fun!

How we see this being structured and how the layers within the story emerge we get some great mystery and intrigue along with some fine action. Then to see how everything works together to create the story’s ebb & flow is remarkably well done.

I am loving the interiors here. The linework we see is phenomenal and as the varying weights are being utilised to bring about some gorgeous detail work we see such a beautiful story coming to life. The way that backgrounds are utilised throughout is sensational to me. They enhance the moments, bring us where the characters are as well as some great depth perception, sense of scale and that overall sense of size and scope to the story. The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show a stupendous eye for storytelling. The colour work is utterly marvellous! How we see the various hues and tones within the colours being utilised to create the shading, highlights and shadow work is beautifully rendered.

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The creativity and imagination that we see throughout is beyond what I could’ve hoped for. From the UN forces in those suits with the creepy smiles to the way that the flow of this book and how the story is revealed showcases a wide range of talent, skill and the know-how to get it all done and done well. Unlikely Heroes Studios is small but mighty and you need to have your local shop order these.