By Keigen Rea — The Kaiju Score #1 continues the, “huh, Aftershock put out a lot of good comics this year, didn’t they?” streak and I cannot be more delighted by it.

The idea of setting a heist in a world with Kaiju is just so fun and smart to me. It’s often that I’ve asked for comics where there are weird mash-ups like this, but the special thing here is that this actually feels like a good idea, one that actually leads to a good story.

In this issue, we meet the gang, they get recruited. The heist is explained. We see the Kaiju. The stakes are high.

A lot is covered in this issue, but it’s not so much that it feels overwhelming or too little to be left wanting more. The pacing is good, with enough room to have three mostly silent pages near the end of the book. More than that, it’s fun, as heist stories should be, in my opinion of course.

The art really is something else though. Rem Broo is new to me, but I am happy I’m being acquainted. His characters have long spindly limbs like a Ditko Spidey, but he primarily draws these wide-screen panels that have a whole different energy altogether. And his faces are like Rob Guillory’s in their expressions. His art here, like the concept of the book, really, is a weird blend of great things that work well together. He does a great job coloring himself, especially the heist scenes.

I think a heist series might be the most marketable book for me, personally, actually? The twists are built into the genre, but they’re still unpredictable, partly due to the fact that they have to happen. It makes for good cliffhangers, since the crew is supposed to be out in danger frequently. As long as there’s a strong cast, this series should theoretically be exactly my jam.

Huh.

Overall: Coming out of nowhere, The Kaiju Score #1 is one of the most fun and delightful first issues this year. Check it out if you like heist stories or being happy. 9/10

REVIEW: The Kaiju Score #1

The Kaiju Score #1
Writer: James Patrick
Artist/Colorist: Rem Broo
Letterer: Dave Sharpe
Publisher: Aftershock Comics
Price: $4.99
It's the most dangerous heist ever attempted. Four desperate criminals are going all in on a once-in-a-lifetime chance to steal millions in art and turn their miserable lives around. The catch? They have to pull it off under the nose of a one thousand-ton Kaiju. And a giant monster might just be the least of their problems. Brought to you by James Patrick (Grimm Fairy Tales, Death Comes to Dillinger, The Monsters of Jimmy Crumb) and Rem Broo (The End Times of Bram and Ben, Terminal Protocol), THE KAIJU SCORE is what happens when a Quentin Tarantino film takes place smack in the middle of a Godzilla movie.
Release Date: November 25, 2020
Buy It Digitally: Kaiju Score #1

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Keigen Rea is excited for the end of the year, for various reasons, including some time off of work and school, along with the fun of making end of the year lists. You can (probably) find him @prince_organa on Twitter.