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SHRUGGED-01b_MarksThe Info Bit

Title: Shrugged vol.2 #1

Genre/s: Fantasy/Adventure

Writer: Frank Mastromauro (Dellec)

Penciler: Jonathan Marks (Soulfire: Despair) & Micah Gunnell (Idolized)

Colorist: Beth Sotelo (Fathom)

Letterer: Josh Reed (pretty much everything Aspen has ever released)

Publisher: Aspen MLT

Number of Issues: 1 (of 6)

Page Count: 21

Price: $1.00

 

The Review Bit

It has been over 4 years since Shrugged volume 1 has ended, but the cute and beloved Aspen title created by the company’s founder and current president is back in a second volume, with the opening issue selling for just ONE DOLLAR! The second part of Aspen’s 10th anniversary 10 comics for $10 initiative, Shrugged volume 2 had a fair amount of attention before the first issue even released, and thankfully the comic doesn’t disappoint. With a mix of artists, holding both the original art team of Shrugged volume 1 and the new addition of Jonathan Marks to take over penciler Micah Gunnell’s role, issue #1 of volume 2 has a great way of merging both old and new, as the company hopes to do with its readership.

Shrugged volume 2 #1 picks up shortly after volume 1, as the new school year starts at Maxwell Hall Preparatory School and our protagonist, Theodore ‘Theo’ Langstrom, starts his senior year. The opening 7-pages feature art by Micah Gunnell, artist of Shrugged volume 1, and basically play recap of volume 1. This recap works great as a refresher to fans who read volume 1 years ago, but doesn’t necessarily fill in all the blanks for fans just now jumping on board Shrugged. That said, it might be enough to drive fans back to the comic shop to pick up the trade paperback, and it gives enough information that new readers won’t be entirely lost. This entire recap is going on between Ange and Dev, Theo’s consciences of sorts (basically the angel and demon on his shoulders), as he wakes up. On page 8 we see Theo fully awake and out the door, ready to start the new school year at the same time we start seeing art from Shrugged’s newest artist, Jonathan Marks. It is a very keen way of denoting a new milestone in Theo’s life, the start of his senior year, and the new art style for volume 2.

At school, Theo meets up once more with his friends, Thom & Kiori, from volume 1 while we are also introduced to some new students. Everybody has aged a bit since we last saw them, and the new art style certainly compliments the more mature look of Theo and his friends. As the students discuss new lab mates, more important matters are discussed in Perspecta, the world where these conscience-like beings, like Ange and Dev, come from. There, Dev’s Nefarian friends are playing a game of “Snoof Snuff” when they bump into Magnuss, the Elysian who was placed in charge of Perspecta at the end of volume 1. Magnuss is attempting to track down the evil Nefarian ex-leader, Ember, after her disappearance at the end of volume 1. But as the last page reveal shows fans, Ember might be the least of Perspecta and Theo’s worries as volume 2 continues.

The writing of Shrugged volume 1 certainly progressed in quality as the series went on, and with the years now inbetween volume 1 and 2, we are certainly seeing a much more solid style of writing coming from Mastromauro, who is even better now than he was in issue #8 of Shrugged volume 1. Now both Ange and Dev seem more focused on their roles of persuading Theo’s decisions to one extreme or another, and Dev certainly seems very focused on the fun of video games and ladies, with a truly high school-like male mentality. In fact, the writing for Dev practically steals the show with some truly hilarious jokes that lead to sexy artwork coming from both Gunnell and Marks. Mastromauro also writes some simply hilarious introductions for two of Maxwell Prep’s newest students, one of which is revealed to be Theo’s new lab partner. I was practically on the floor laughing when I got to the page that introduces Theo’s lab partner, and I’m sure you all will enjoy it to. At the very end of the issue, Mastromauro also provides an intimate afterword describing his last conversation with Michael Turner about Shrugged and how the ideas expressed then are being used now for volume 2. It is quite a touching and insightful piece that could give hint of things to come for volume 2 of Shrugged.

On the art end we see an evolution of sorts in Micah Gunnell’s style, now being able to compare it to his work on the same characters over 6 years ago (remember, volume 1 started back in 2006!). Gunnell’s artwork is as beautiful as ever and we can truly enjoy it in multiple double-page splash pieces that revive his directional arrow style paneling from volume 1. As I stated before, new artist, Jonathan Marks, begins his interiors on page 8 onward, in a great transition within the story. This change in art plays as a fun way to show the evolution of the story into the second volume, but is a little jarring. Volume 1 had Gunnell’s very cute and near cartoonish style of art, while Marks provides a much more realistic and sketch heavy tone. The characters still look great, but it certainly changes the tone of the book. However, considering Marks skill at drawing sexy women in a storyline where the character Dev is so focus on them? I’m sure very few people will complain. In fact, the only complaint I can really hold for Marks art is he seems to have trouble drawing necks from certain perspectives. Marks’ art makes the setting of Maxwell Prep look quite realistic, and Perspecta a whole new world. Now Nefario looks quite dark, and the Nefarians far more demonic. Meanwhile, Elysia keeps its beautiful architecture, but the once quite cartoonish Elysians now appear to be well armoured and finely gowned angelic figures. It’s a change, but not a bad one. It is also worth noting Marks’ style of paneling, which seems very renaissance and beautiful, as opposed to Gunnell’s, which really focused on arrows that pointed in different ways of decision (keeping in theme with the books concept).

Josh Reed, who started lettering Shrugged on issue #6 of volume 1, continues to use the beautiful font and designs crafted by Dreamer Design for Shrugged from the beginning. The captions for Dev and Ange are still quite unique from anyone else in the book and add a great addition to the read. Beth Sotelo remains the colorist of Shrugged, carrying over from volume 1, and her work is as amazing as ever. Yet I can’t end this review without talking about the covers. There are a whopping 28 covers available for Shrugged #1! 23 of those covers are retailer exclusive editions, which are unique to specific comic shops, and Gunnell, Marks, and Ale Garza provide the rest. If you can make it to MegaCon this year, I highly recommend picking up the sexy Ale Garza cover, but the traditional $1 direct edition and Aspen Reserved editions are both rather beautiful as well.

 

The Rating Bit

Shrugged volume 2 #1 is a fun return to the Shrugged universe at a very affordable cost. Well this title may not be perfect for new readers, it is easy enough to jump on and a must own for any fan of the original volume of Shrugged. Mastromauro writes a fun story and shows a strong grasp of what pulls at the minds of high school boys, while Gunnell, Marks, and Sotelo provide beautiful artwork. At only $1 for the first issue, there is no reason not to pick up this book we give a strong 9 out of 10 to. Pick up Shrugged #1 when it hits stores next Wednesday, March 13th!