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REVIEW: City of Roses #1
Book Title: City of Roses #1
Book Description: City of Roses #1 tells the tale of a biker gang in Portland. From what I can see this isn’t your typical biker gang. This gang appears to be a vigilante group that’s trying to keep drugs off the street.
We also get to see the softer side of some of the gang. Gabe, the leader, and his wife are in the process of adopting a little girl named Nova. His wife is an artist who is having a gallery opening.
We can see trouble is brewing. The gang roughed up a member of a gang from Sacramento that was caught dealing heroin in city limits. For some reason the gang seems surprised that the bikers from Sacramento are looking for a little payback when they show up at the gallery opening.
Book Author: Francis Sampieri
Book Format: Paperback
Publisher - Orgnization: Bird’s Eye Comics
Publisher Logo:
Illustrator: Epul Saepuloh
- Story(3)
- Interior Art(3.25)
- Cover Art(3)
- Dialogue(3.25)
- Mechanics(2.5)
- Editing(3)
Summary
I came across City of Roses during my adventures at Rose City Comic-Con. In fact Bird’s Eye Comics’ booth was the first indie comic booth I hit at the con. The pitch about the book intrigued me enough to buy a copy.
I liked how noble and powerful the members of the gang look on their bikes in the cover’s artwork. It’s easy to see that Gabe and Micteca both have a lot on their minds.
The interior artwork is solid. In some panels it’s not as detailed as I’d have liked. In others being a bit more abstract is just the right touch, especially on the page depicting downtown Portland.
City of Roses #1 takes a while to develop. That’s not unsurprising for the first issue of a new series. There’s a lot that has to be done with a limited amount of pages to make it happen. Backstories and character development on minor characters are often forced to take a back seat in the spirit of moving the story along.
I am curious who the woman in the hotel room is. How did Gabe know to find her there? What is the extent of the gang’s relationship with the Portland Police Department? I am hoping we’ll get some answers in the next issue.
As a geek on a budget I’d say that City of Roses is worth the price of admission. It has some action and drama to go along with some everyday life moments that make Gabe’s family become our friends.
You can get your own copy of City of Roses at:
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