Nightblade #1
Written by: Various
Illustrtated by: Various
JK Paperz
2024
*Minor spoilers ahead
Over 30 of the finest underground cartoonists come together to bring you the most eXtreme eXperimental comiX in this “narrative-corpse” comic anthology roasting 1990’s comic-book-boom excess! Each artist was tasked to continue the story having only seen the previous artist’s page.
No script! No continuity! No end! Just blades, guns, and fights!
Nightblade is a futuristic mercenary sent back in time to fulfill a super-secret mission he has forgotten. He’s a man out of time running out of time! Will he remember his past and fulfill the mission or get stuck in 199X forever?!?
Features comics and art by Nathaniel JK, Paul Kortjohn, Mattchee, Mike Ford, Alex Daikaiju, Ben Mueller, Alex Turbin, Ben Cherry, Brad Dwyer, Adam Yeater, Chris!, Connor Gallus, Dee Palmer, Gabe Ostley, Jake Quirk, Jarred Smith, Joseph Leonardo, Jamie Barrows, Ronnie King, KRAM, Nate Breen, Marco Bellomo, Mushroom Zero, Bong Squach, Nutria Loaf, Peter Sanders, Stephen Cox, Claude, Robert Negoesco, Ernie Bushmiller Jr, and Stephan Recksiedler.
“Nightblade #1” is not just a comic book; it’s a time capsule that transports you back to the radical ’90s, where the comic book industry boomed with larger-than-life characters and unapologetic action. Published by JK Paperz, this one-shot issue released on April 24, 2024, is a love letter to the era, crafted by over 30 of the most talented underground cartoonists in a daring “narrative-corpse” anthology.
The premise is as wild as the decade it celebrates: It’s as if Mad-Libs had decided to publish a comic book and each artist contributes to the ongoing story with only the previous page for guidance. This results in a disjointed, yet thrilling ride through a narrative that refuses to be tamed by the conventional norms of storytelling. It’s an experimental journey through pages filled with blades, guns, lot’s of belt-pouches, and non-stop fights, embodying the very essence of ’90s excess.
This one shot title will bring back memories of comics such as Youngblood, and WildC.A.T.S., (or Wildcats, however you may remember it), and back to characters like Shatterstar, Cable and Longshot.
At the heart of this pandemonium is Nightblade, a futuristic mercenary flung back in time on a super-secret mission he can’t remember. The stakes are high as he races against time itself, trying to piece together his past to complete his objective before becoming a permanent fixture in the year 199X.
The black and white pages are a canvas for the diverse styles of artists like Nathaniel JK, Paul Kortjohn, and Mattchee, alongside many others, each bringing their unique flair to the table. The result is a visual feast that’s as much a tribute to the individuality of the artists as it is to the collective chaos they create.
“Nightblade #1” is a bold experiment that pays off, offering a reading experience that’s as unpredictable as it is nostalgic. It’s a testament to the creative spirit of the ’90s, where rules were bent and boundaries pushed. For anyone yearning for a taste of comic book history or just looking for a wild ride, this issue is a must-read.
Priced at $8.00 for 40 pages, it’s a steal for a piece of art that challenges the norms and delivers a punch of pure, unadulterated comic book joy. I rate “Nightblade #1” a solid 9 out of 10 stars, a score that reflects its ability to not only entertain but also innovate within the medium. Lastly I should also mention that this title is most definitely aimed at adult humor, nothing awful, but I wouldn’t suggest it for kids as it also has the feel of a punk ‘zine of the 1980s. With that being said, grab your copy and prepare to be whisked away on an adventure that’s as much about the journey as it is about the destination.
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