Collective Consciousness: Rumble #1
CTG’s Collective Consciousness column is group study of a single issue. All of our writers submit a review for a chosen issue and we put them together under one moniker so you can see just how diverse our tastes are! It’s a lot of fun to put together and we hope you have fun reading it. As with all our reviews please share your thoughts on the review, the book, or both. This week we’ll be taking a look at the latest debut issue from Image Comics, Rumble #1.
Rumble #1
Okay, so a scarecrow walks into a bar...and proceeds to wreak havoc across two worlds! After a long absence, Rathraq, Scarecrow Warrior God, is back-and very unhappy. Bad news for his old enemies, yes, but worse news for everybody else! The creative team brings you a modern day action/adventure fantasy thriller where rundown dive bars, undead kitty cats, psycho skinheads, and giant mummies all play a part. It's Louis C.K. meets Robert E. Howard in a David Fincher universe.
This new Image Comics original is co-created by John Arcudi and James Harren with the color art by Dave Stewart.
Now let’s find out what the CTG family thought about this debut issue.
FD White
Damn! Now that's how you start a comic! Rumble is a no holds barred, back alley fist fight kind of comic. It's dirty and beautiful. The story is interesting and simple so far, but leaves bread crumbs for much bigger things to come. The characters feel real, even though we hardly know anything about them besides their names for the most part. Bobby is sympathetic, and you can't help but root for him to succeed. On top of doing all that, a world is being built. Rumble might be the fastest I've ever felt sucked into the world of a comic. Providing ancillary characters with different looks and dialects, in different areas helps to make this book feel like a real world. Pick this up, no questions asked.
Louie Whiteford
Whaaaaaaaaat?
When the first issue of your comic’s a shambling mess like this one, be sure to fill it with lots of character strengthening details and incredible cartooning, like this one. Rumble succeeds despite the thrown together story because it’s drenched in style. Issue #1 s front-loaded with introductions, at least half of which have no context unifying them. I've got no idea what this comic is going to be about, but I’m still eager to find out. I’m eager to get to know the cast of characters. I’m eager to know what’s up with the Scarecrow-Demon-Hunter thing. Most of all, I’m eager to see more of Dave Stewart’s vibrant, expressive art.
Stephen Gervais
Well that was one wild ride!! I wasn’t quite sure what to make it of this comic the first few pages but it picks up pretty quickly afterwards. The art is brilliant and I absolutely loved the city scenes. I’m sucker for detailed city work and this comic had some exceptional panels. The story is somewhat chaotic but I’m digging it. They’ve put together a pretty big cast of characters and I’m not sure how they’re all connected but I’m anxious to find out. I’m especially curious about the hillbilly fisherman. Overall this debut issue was an action packed journey into a very strange world with amazing artwork. I’m not sure what direction this story is heading in but I get the feeling it’ll be worth it to stick around and find out.
Robert James Cross
Interesting concept...but so far I'm creating my own scenario for why the devilish guy with the sword is doing what he does. Beyond that, the banter between the characters in this urban jungle is quick and witty. It reads like an 80s action flick, which isn't exactly a bad thing these days. Also, I'm slightly confused on who i should be rooting for. The main character is kind of a wimp and the devilish sword dude doesn't say more than two words, but there's always the wise-cracking vet. The art is beautiful and the surroundings are very methodical in their use. Beyond the confusion, there's something mystical about this first issue...but the whole affair escapes me...
Forrest Hollingsworth
Resting firmly somewhere between fun and serious the only truly compelling thing (disappointingly) in this first issue is the cliffhanger. I truly believe in Arcudi because as a helmsmen of the Mignolaverse, he’s done great, compelling work there and created some issues that truly and deeply moved namely, the recent standalone issue of BPRD. However, I was promised vengeful scarecrow god and I didn’t get much of it. Instead, I got a half-assed everyman barkeep and two buddy cop demons. Is it funny? Yes. Is it well drawn and written? Yes. Is it compelling, interesting or creative? Not really. There’s nothing here, yet that is, that’s different from anything I’ve seen before, treading that careful line between serious mythology and funny high fantasy/horror. Is the scarecrow god or the barkeep our hero? Are those two demons main characters? Is this a comedy, mystery, fantasy or horror book? I don’t know, and this book doesn’t try too hard to sway you one way or the other. The art is good, the writing is believable but ultimately, this issue, especially for a first issue, isn’t here or there.
Matthew Mahar
Not great, but far from terrible. This debut story delivers a fun, moody tale the likes of which we seem to be inundated with as of late. The real world/fantasy mash up style has had a few big hits this year. However, there is nothing here that immediately sets this apart from the crowd. The reader is left as bewildered as the main character which, in this case, hurts my ability to engage with the story. The art is decent, but I am left to wonder if a more toned down approach would service the story in a better manner. 5/10.
ToriBee
It's all rather evocative, from the cover page all the way to the very last page. Rumble leaves a strange sense of the unearthly and while it's not completely clear what's going on, the mystery works in favour for this story. There's not clarity on where the supernatural comes from but they seem interesting enough to keep the reader hooked. There's a Scarecrow Warrior God and some little demons running about, immersed in a rundown city. The art works amazingly for this kind of tone, the unique lines for every character-- telling of their story without actually giving anything away, as well as the oddly bright and colorful, yet grungy colours. Rumble so far seems to be a captivating story as well as a creative take for a supernatural story.
Rumble #1
Okay, so a scarecrow walks into a bar...and proceeds to wreak havoc across two worlds! After a long absence, Rathraq, Scarecrow Warrior God, is back-and very unhappy. Bad news for his old enemies, yes, but worse news for everybody else! The creative team brings you a modern day action/adventure fantasy thriller where rundown dive bars, undead kitty cats, psycho skinheads, and giant mummies all play a part. It's Louis C.K. meets Robert E. Howard in a David Fincher universe.
This new Image Comics original is co-created by John Arcudi and James Harren with the color art by Dave Stewart.
Now let’s find out what the CTG family thought about this debut issue.
FD White
Damn! Now that's how you start a comic! Rumble is a no holds barred, back alley fist fight kind of comic. It's dirty and beautiful. The story is interesting and simple so far, but leaves bread crumbs for much bigger things to come. The characters feel real, even though we hardly know anything about them besides their names for the most part. Bobby is sympathetic, and you can't help but root for him to succeed. On top of doing all that, a world is being built. Rumble might be the fastest I've ever felt sucked into the world of a comic. Providing ancillary characters with different looks and dialects, in different areas helps to make this book feel like a real world. Pick this up, no questions asked.
Louie Whiteford
Whaaaaaaaaat?
When the first issue of your comic’s a shambling mess like this one, be sure to fill it with lots of character strengthening details and incredible cartooning, like this one. Rumble succeeds despite the thrown together story because it’s drenched in style. Issue #1 s front-loaded with introductions, at least half of which have no context unifying them. I've got no idea what this comic is going to be about, but I’m still eager to find out. I’m eager to get to know the cast of characters. I’m eager to know what’s up with the Scarecrow-Demon-Hunter thing. Most of all, I’m eager to see more of Dave Stewart’s vibrant, expressive art.
Stephen Gervais
Well that was one wild ride!! I wasn’t quite sure what to make it of this comic the first few pages but it picks up pretty quickly afterwards. The art is brilliant and I absolutely loved the city scenes. I’m sucker for detailed city work and this comic had some exceptional panels. The story is somewhat chaotic but I’m digging it. They’ve put together a pretty big cast of characters and I’m not sure how they’re all connected but I’m anxious to find out. I’m especially curious about the hillbilly fisherman. Overall this debut issue was an action packed journey into a very strange world with amazing artwork. I’m not sure what direction this story is heading in but I get the feeling it’ll be worth it to stick around and find out.
Robert James Cross
Interesting concept...but so far I'm creating my own scenario for why the devilish guy with the sword is doing what he does. Beyond that, the banter between the characters in this urban jungle is quick and witty. It reads like an 80s action flick, which isn't exactly a bad thing these days. Also, I'm slightly confused on who i should be rooting for. The main character is kind of a wimp and the devilish sword dude doesn't say more than two words, but there's always the wise-cracking vet. The art is beautiful and the surroundings are very methodical in their use. Beyond the confusion, there's something mystical about this first issue...but the whole affair escapes me...
Forrest Hollingsworth
Resting firmly somewhere between fun and serious the only truly compelling thing (disappointingly) in this first issue is the cliffhanger. I truly believe in Arcudi because as a helmsmen of the Mignolaverse, he’s done great, compelling work there and created some issues that truly and deeply moved namely, the recent standalone issue of BPRD. However, I was promised vengeful scarecrow god and I didn’t get much of it. Instead, I got a half-assed everyman barkeep and two buddy cop demons. Is it funny? Yes. Is it well drawn and written? Yes. Is it compelling, interesting or creative? Not really. There’s nothing here, yet that is, that’s different from anything I’ve seen before, treading that careful line between serious mythology and funny high fantasy/horror. Is the scarecrow god or the barkeep our hero? Are those two demons main characters? Is this a comedy, mystery, fantasy or horror book? I don’t know, and this book doesn’t try too hard to sway you one way or the other. The art is good, the writing is believable but ultimately, this issue, especially for a first issue, isn’t here or there.
Matthew Mahar
Not great, but far from terrible. This debut story delivers a fun, moody tale the likes of which we seem to be inundated with as of late. The real world/fantasy mash up style has had a few big hits this year. However, there is nothing here that immediately sets this apart from the crowd. The reader is left as bewildered as the main character which, in this case, hurts my ability to engage with the story. The art is decent, but I am left to wonder if a more toned down approach would service the story in a better manner. 5/10.
ToriBee
It's all rather evocative, from the cover page all the way to the very last page. Rumble leaves a strange sense of the unearthly and while it's not completely clear what's going on, the mystery works in favour for this story. There's not clarity on where the supernatural comes from but they seem interesting enough to keep the reader hooked. There's a Scarecrow Warrior God and some little demons running about, immersed in a rundown city. The art works amazingly for this kind of tone, the unique lines for every character-- telling of their story without actually giving anything away, as well as the oddly bright and colorful, yet grungy colours. Rumble so far seems to be a captivating story as well as a creative take for a supernatural story.
A Look Inside
