Austin St. John’s Red-Empt1on # 2
Created by Austin St. John
Writer: Chris Hays
Co-Writers: Cole Hays, Ken Salinas & McLain McGuire
Artist: Phillip Cruz
Colorist: Matt Chambers
Letterer: McLain McGuire
Cover Date: October 2023
Rating:
This week, I will look at issue two of Austin St. John’s apocalyptic epic “Red-Empt1on” which sees the title’s main protagonist, the ex-marine Reaper, fighting his way through a swarm of demonic monsters in the Middle East.
Austin St. John and his creative team continue the non-stop thrill ride from the first issue, showing Reaper fighting through impossible odds while never giving up hope on reuniting with his wife and daughter to where the emotional aspects are built up to excellent results while keeping the readers invested in this journey of survival. What I found the most interesting is how the action sequences easily flow even though they give off a bloody vibe, they never derail the story’s structure but enforce the military elements that many veterans will enjoy, even though most of the pacing can slow down at times. Still, the writing team of Chris & Cole Hays, Ken Salinas, and McLain McGuire keeps excelling when it comes to fleshing out Reaper as a true vet/hero without adding in any of the factors one would find in “The Evil Dead” and at the same time, never trying to make him a bargain-basement Bruce Cambell thanks in part to the brilliance of this original concept and major kudos for Phillip Cruz’s art that has a Lee Garbett feel to it but succeeds in adding the realism that in turn makes it feel authentic and extreme. This series is a must for action fanatics/lifelong comic book geeks, not to mention the proud veterans who serve this country with pride and dignity. Don’t expect a watered-down “G.I.Joe” but a series that can impact pop culture and the shelves of many comic book shops for years to come.
Well, that’s it for me this week. Thanks for sticking around, and I look forward to seeing you all next time.
About Author
