Z-Blade XX # 1

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Title: Z-Blade XX # 1
Rating:
Publisher Website: Atomic Basement

Writer: Stephen J Palmer
Pencils: Guy LeMay
Inks:
Colors:
Number of pages: 32
Price: 3.99
Color: Color
Safety Content Label: PARENTAL ADVISORY - 15 years and older. Similiar to T+ but featuring more mature themes and/or more graphic imagery.

Publishers Blurb:
"Z-Blade XX" (Atomic Basement) It's blade throwing action as Z-Blade XX comes face to face with his most fearsome foe. "Insomniac"

Reviewer Comments:
Ok, it took me two reads to decide, but I liked this book. It's very modern indie meets very 70s Marvel. This book definitely has an interesting vibe to it.

Ryan emits Z-Rays. His pal Claude designs some armor that allows him to harness those Z-Rays and increase his super abilities. Lawrence Greenfield, The Insomniac, has escaped from Quittance Insanitarium. Z even takes out the DISCO BRAWLERS. Several people get thrown through windows. What's not to like?

The story gets rather wordy, but Palmer keeps it going without letting you get bogged down. Some of the dialogue gets clunky, but again, it's seventies Marvel clunky, so it works in the whole atmosphere of the book.

Guy LeMay's art is good solid fun. Part Batman the Animated Series, part Image's Jack Staff, it is both strong and consistent. I really got into it.

And yes, we get a peek at the helmets for several of the earlier Z-Blade armors. They show off 12 of the original 19, with XX making 20.

Well worth the $3.99, as this 32 pager has 28 pages of full color story, a gorgeous pin-up, the next issue's cover and the info pages, including those 12 helmets. That's more than we get in those ad filled $3.99 books that certain major publisher's put out.