REVIEW: Andy Starboy #1

Rating if the Book Were a Movie: PG-13

Creator/Writer: Daniel D. Calvo 
Line Artist: Leandro Meneses
Colors: Matthew Huve
Letters: Lonzo Starr
Editor: Lonzo Starr
Publisher: Konkret Comics 

One of my favorite things about indie comics is the fact that creators are only limited by their imaginations. You can have a Quentin Tarantino story taking place in the corner of a Godzilla movie and it works. “Andy Starboy” is a title that breaks boundaries in its own way.

The story begins with the crash in Roswell, NM in 1947. We learn that over the years there have been several other crashes in the area. No bodies are ever found in the wreckages; but specialists are able to reverse engineer the technology from the spacecraft. As a result humanity’s technological advances go up by leaps and bounds.

The crashes have brought other changes to the area. Radiation leaks from the ships have brought about a series of mutations. The wildlife in the area is growing to gargantuan sizes. We see a scorpion the size of a Volkswagen. 

We also learn that wildlife isn’t the only thing that the radiation has affected. Some humans have also had mutations. Over time this has developed a new race called Nu-breeds. The Nu-breeds are all placed in an “Area 51 ghetto” where they constantly live in fear of an attack from a mutated wild animal.

Andy Gonzalez, aka Andy Starboy, is the hero of our story. He’s a Nu-breed that stands out. He has a reality show where people see him fighting the animals in defense of the city. 

Because of his fame he’s now accepted when he goes about his daily life as a high school student. Andy hasn’t forgotten how he used to be treated. There is still a shocking cultural bias against Nu-breeds.

Should Andy shun his newfound “friends” that gravitated to him after his rise to stardom? Is this really the life he wants? These questions will have to wait. 

Right now Andy is forced into the arduous task of deciding what to do when a fellow Nu-breed takes exception to the blatant racism they are personally experiencing. Will he be able to live with his decision?

Artwork: 1 Star 

From start to finish the artwork is incredibly detailed. From the scales on the giant Gila monster to the way the fabric creases on a couch in the background, nothing is overlooked.

Story: .75 Stars 

When I saw the cover I was expecting an action/adventure story. While we get plenty of action we also see the everyday life aspect for our hero as we get to know Andy Gonzalez the son and high school student. I love that this book doesn’t shy away from speaking out about the social issues that are taking place in this country. It’s as if we’re viewing the second coming of Lee, Ditko, and Kirby from the early Marvel days.

Dialogue: 1 Star

Between the dialogue and thought bubbles the reader gets a banquet of information. This is how we learn about Andy’s life at school before and after stardom. We get to see Andy being the typical teenager with his mom and classmates. It shows how much thought went into everything that we see.

Editing: 1 Star 

The lettering is terrific. I loved the use of the different colors for balloons to help distinguish who was speaking. It’s a little thing that goes a long way towards making the book more enjoyable.

The editor’s notes and narrative did a terrific job of filling in any blanks that were left from the dialogue. Well done!

Mechanics: 1 Star 

“Andy Starboy” was very easy to fall into. It moves along at a steady pace with smooth transitions when we change scenes. By the end of the issue Andy is more than just a comic book character. He’s a friend.

I received this digital copy as part of a Kickstarter I backed a while ago. If you want your own physical or digital copy go to http://www.konkretcomics.com and click on the shop tab. There you will find “Andy Starboy” as well as an assortment of other great titles for you to dive into while keeping it Konkret!