PopCultHQ received an advance review copy of DANGER DOLL SQUAD: GALACTIC GLADIATORS #1 from Action Lab Entertainment‘s Danger Zone imprint. Available Wednesday, April 4th, the creative team for this series features writing from Jason Martin, Bryan Seaton, and Dan Mendoza, art from Winston Young, colors by Sean Callahan and Valentina Pucci, and lettering from Adam Wollet.
Here’s PopCultHQ’s spoiler-free review of…
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DANGER DOLL SQUAD Vol. 2:
GALACTIC GLADIATORS #1
32 pgs./ M / FC
$4.99
The popular Danger Zone team-up event series returns!! Zombie Tramp, Vampblade, and DollFace come together again, and this time they’re forced into battle… in space! When a new cosmic threat plucks the girls from Earth and places them into their galactic combat arena, can our lethal ladies measure up against the baddest gladiators from across the cosmos??
The next Zombie Tramp universe crossover starts here, with covers from some of the series’ hottest artists (each with their own risqué variant as well)!
VARIANT COVERS
PopCultHQ’s Comic Book Review:
DANGER DOLL SQUAD: GLALACTIC GLADIATORS #1
I’ll admit, I love the Danger Zone lethal ladies. Individually, as well as collectively. Each have an established backstory and have appeared together on more than a few occasions already (DANGER DOLL SQUAD Vol. 1, crossovers in solo titles). This new volume immediately follows their last epic adventure together but now places the Dolls in a precarious, and quite possibly deadly, scenario that may not be survivable. If you’re new to the Danger Zone imprint, Zombie Tramp, Vampblade, or DollFace, no worries! The intro pages, as always, layout everything you need to know and immediately get you up-to-speed. By the end of the book, you’ll be filled with so much curiosity and lingering questions that’ll make issue two a must-have. There’s never been a better time to jump on board to Action Lab: Danger Zone’s leading lethal ladies!
Writing:
The writing in DANGER DOLL SQUAD: GALACTIC GLADIATORS #1 took me by surprise. The way this new volume kicks off, it seems innocently like a brief recap of the first miniseries, a quick bio on each of the Dolls, and then beginning with their new adventure. But halfway through the issue, I got hit hard with a fascinating narrative, deeply rooted in science fiction. There were a few occasions were I drew parallels in my mind to classic sci-fi flicks like Star Wars, Dreamscape, Tron (to name a few) as well as a Thor: Ragnarok likeness and a Battlestar Galactica moment. The ending is a WTF?! moment that sets the stage for a crazy, anything goes, no-holds barred adventure for Janey, Katie, and Lila. There’s no telling where and how far this series will go, but with such an interesting premise and strong outing in issue one, adding DANGER DOLL SQUAD: GALACTIC GLADIATORS to my pull list is a no-brainer.
Art:
Winston Young continues to deliver a fantastic look and feel to the series, as well as each character individually. Young’s splash pages are truly something to behold, as you’ll find yourself mesmerized taking it all in. His illustrations of Batau Ceti 16 are allowing the artist to show off his creativity in depicting this mysterious world, which although briefly seen in this premiere issue, readers can expect it being explored in subsequent issues. Can’t wait to see more of this world and what Winston has up his sleeves for the future of the Danger Doll Squad.
The colors in DDS: GG #1 provide great depth for Young’s artwork. From the softer and warmer tones in the early pages to the futuristic, electric, and glowing neon-infused battles and off-planet scenery, Callahan and Pucci inject intensity in this new volume. Looking ahead, the colorists are really going to be able to have some fun and get wild with the exotic and futuristic panels Young is producing, which only guarantees more pleasing and eye-popping colors from the team.
The lettering from Adam Wollet is handled like a pro, having to give three distinct voices for the leading lethal ladies, in addition to the sound effects, placement, and emphasis. Wollet appears in a groove with his contributions for Danger Zone franchise characters and puts out another solid performance with this new volume of the Danger Dolls. With an out-of-this-world story and gladitorial combat on the horizon, look for Adam to continue to add that extra punch in the action and pacing.
PopCultHQ’s overall assessment:
DANGER DOLL SQUAD: GALACTIC GLADIATORS #1 did something for me which I hadn’t expected, nor do I encounter that often. It gave me not one, but two moments where I literally blurted out, “Whoa!” These were plot twists I didn’t foresee but were beyond brilliant inclusions to the story, adding more questions leading into issue two. Capturing some of the best components of sci-fi alongside the tale of the trio together again, this new series is captivating. No other way to put it. I’m hooked and you will be too after picking up and reading DANGER DOLL SQUAD: GALACTIC GLADIATORS #1.
PopCultHQ’s Rating:
5 Out of 5 Stars
(Would rate a 6 if I could)
DANGER DOLL SQUAD: GALACTIC GLADIATORS #1 can be pre-ordered NOW on ComiXology
and available at your local comic shop and online retailers Wednesday, April 4th!
Be sure to follow the creative team!
Writer/Colorist – Jason Martin
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Writer/Artist/Cover Artist – Dan Mendoza
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Writer – Bryan Seaton
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Artist – Winston Young
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Colorist – Sean Callahan
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Colorist – Valentina Pucci
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Letterer – Adam Wollet
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Publisher – Action Lab: Danger Zone
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