Publisher: ORC Comics

Rating: Mature

http://www.orcomics.com

Being a vintageComic Book reader it’s been amazing over the years watching the comics industry grow and change. Part of that growth has been the creation of new comics publishers. So when Comic Book Therapy was offered the chance to review Villainous I was intrigued. In this first issue we get a brief glimpse into Victor Arkin’s past. As a young boy he comes home to find his mother dead on the floor. While kneeling at his mothers side  Victor’s father comes up behind him and attacks smashing an alcohol bottle into his face and creating a permanent scar.

Victor runs out the back door and to a shed  where he picks up and loads a shot gun as his father comes closer and closer threatening to kill him. With one last failed plea towards his father Victor has no choice but to shoot him.

We then flash forward several years later as a couple of guards at a psychiatric hospital are discussing their murderous patient  only to find him hanging from his cell. Old trick I know but the guards fall for it!

Then Victor is free fighting his way through the halls of the Asylum to the woods leading up to a climactic battle with police Detective Bryson.

This issue was intriguing but there were a few things that I really didn’t get. though Victor has a flashback to killing a cop he doesn’t do more than injure the guards as he leaves. Especially since he is described as a mass murder. It’s possibly more will be explained in future issues but it was curious. The action was fast paced and kept me interested.

Graeme Kennedy’s art and coloring style fits the toe of the book. There is a harshness to the characters deception contrasted by bright splashes of color this technique really makes the action scenes “pop” and when the scenes are bloody even more terrifying.  There isn’t a whole lot of dialogue in this issue but there is definitely a foundation that can be built upon. I curious to learn more about this character and that’s the best thing a comic book can do, keep you wanting more.

You can read a prologue, Issue 1 and part of Issue 2 of Villainous at :

http://www.orcomics.com

Yogikai, Review: Villainous Issue # 1