[Comic Book Review] BADLANDS TPB (Second Edition) from Dark Horse Comics

Joshua Winchester

January 25, 2018

Share with

PopCultHQ received an advance review copy of BADLANDS TPB (Second Edition) from Dark Horse Comics. Available March 14th, 2018, the creative team for this series features writing from Steven Grant, art from Vince Giarrano, and lettering from Clem Robins.

Here’s PopCultHQ’s spoiler-free review of…

BADLANDS TPB (Second Edition)

Writer: Steven Grant
Artist: Vince Giarrano
Letterer: Clem Robins
Cover Artist: Tim Bradstreet

In Shops: March 14th, 2018
SRP: $17.99

Conrad ”Connie” Bremen is an ex-con carrying the stench of a sordid, secret past. Connie just wants to get on with his life, but he’s attracting the attention of all the wrong people: the mob, the CIA, and the FBI, just to name a few. They all have plans for Connie, whether he likes it or not–and some of those plans include the murder of a president. For Connie Bremen, the road to Dallas begins and ends here, in the Badlands.

* This second edition features a brand new cover, illustrated by Tim Bradstreet!

* From Steven Grant (2 Guns, The Rook) and Vince Giarrano (Terminator)

PopCultHQ’s Comic Book Review:
Badlands TPB (Second Edition)

Writing:

Steven Grant gives readers a hard character who wants to do right. But Connie Bremen can’t escape his criminal past, and gets up caught up in a plot that will throw the whole nation into chaos. Steven has written an in-depth and compelling crime comic here, one that will sink its hooks into people right away and hold them throughout the story.

Art:

Vince’s artwork is very gritty and dark, which fits the nature of the plot and Connie’s Bremen’s character. There is a heavy use of shadows and darkness that really sells that this is a graphic novel that has no happy ending in sight for any of its main characters, least of all Connie. All of the pages of artwork showcase the close collaboration that went on between Vince and Steven for this TPB.

Clem’s lettering adds a lot of dimension to the TPB. With its black and white art and well-laid out plot, there is a high need for a letterer who can add their talents to the pool. Clem puts a lot of work into making sure that everyone from Connie and Peck to smaller figures like Anne’s ex-boyfriend and his crowd of friends have individual voices. Everybody in Badlands has a story to tell and Clem’s lettering helps them tell it.

PopCultHQ’s overall assessment:

Welcome to the world of Badlands. It’s the early 60’s and Connie Bremen is an ex-con looking to start over. Instead, Connie gets himself in with dangerous people and finds out that his new employer is involved in a deadly plot. One that will shake the foundations of America and the course of history itself.