A local comic shop was putting on a signing for this first issue and I was lucky enough to get there and get the signatures from Jai, Phil, and Ande. Also there when I made it was Tony Moore, he another local boy who did the art for Walking Dead and Exterminators among other things. I've been lucky enough to see Phil and Ande about 5 or 6 times at random cons and Tony probably 2 or 3 times now, same with Jai. Each and every time they greet each person who walks in with a smile and some friendly banter. These aren't grizzled guys who get pissed at you for asking them a question, they're just dudes. Dudes you could kick back and have a beer with while talking about comics, football, and anything else.

And that's the mindset I was in while reading this fine comic. Jai has been a friend for a little while now and has been one of the biggest proponents to push me toward striving harder for my dream of comic mastery. So with a heavy heart I finally take the time to review one of his comics, and I'm pleased. I've read a bunch of them and never looked at them with a critical eye, but let's do that here.

The first issue introduces readers to Chato Santana, Special Agent Alex Aaron, Jorge the backstabbing bitch from the Los Reyes gang, and a couple of other characters like Bob Olsen and reintroduces readers to Lazarus Lane, the first major El Diablo. The story starts in the middle of the desert with Lazarus offering his hand to Chato and then quick-cuts to a weapons deal going on in a warehouse.

It feels a lot like a movie.

The tension starts almost immediately as Chato and Jorge disagree on the H.I.V.E. weapons they are purchasing (firmly setting this book in the regular DC universe) and that leads to the betrayal that causes things to spiral out of control for Chato. He attempts to make his way out of the fray, losing a lot of his men in the process, and gets stopped by that same backstabber as before, as Jorge vanishes into thin-air thanks to the new tech.

The reason I said that it feels like a movie (or a procedural cop show even) is that we quickly move from locale to locale. We very briefly see the injured Chato (who can no longer walk) and then we get to see what Agent Aaron has planned. Basically, he wants to do his damnedest to drive Chato to accept his deal. We get bits and pieces about the characters along the way, but it doesn't trudge along and tell the story at a snail's pace.

It tells it as it goes along. We see Lazarus just briefly, and he isn't smacked across our faces. He's just a dude in a coma that doesn't talk to anyone and his roommates keep dying, just like Bob's. Of course, knowing anything about El Diablo the character we know that Lazarus is REALLY old and that he was El Diablo and now he makes his own deal with Chato, accept his role as the vengeance getter for Hell (essentially DC's Ghost Rider, which is a really bad thing to break him down as but he is a Spirit of Vengeance). We get to see this new El Diablo who is hard to kill just like Lazarus Lane, and we get to see why Bob is so batshit crazy.

Now, full-blown commentary: this comic is good. Real good. It makes me happy to know the three gentlemen involved in the comic and  makes me happy to have gotten their signature on the first issue. My major beef with the book is that this is an honest to God Hispanic character but he's a gang-lord who becomes a Spirit of Vengeance. I know, knowing Jai, that this will work itself out and I'm (hopefully) safe in assuming that he will be more hero than villain. I like the idea of DC (and Marvel) broadening their horizons and allowing for more characters to be ethnic in some fashion, and allowing for their characters to be more like the readers.

Real.

That's what I meant when I said felt like a movie. The pacing is perfect. Not too fast, not too slow, and the artwork is pitch-perfect as well. To be expected from the workhorses that are Hester and Parks, and its always a nice touch seeing them on anything. I've followed their art for a long time and I will continue to do so.

I can't say enough good things about this comic. I bought it for the creative team, and won out with a great comic. So that's a win for me on this book and more than enough reason to pick up the next 5. Hopefully there can be more, but I won't get greedy yet.