PopCultHQ received an advance review copy of DANGER DOLL SQUAD #0 from Action Lab Entertainment‘s Danger Zone imprint. Available Wednesday, August 9th, the creative team for this series features writing from Dan Mendoza, Bryan Seaton, and Jason Martin, art from Celor, Marco Maccagni, and Winston Young, colors by Richard Garcia, Jason Martin, Chris Northrop, and Valentina Pucci, and lettering from Justin Birch.
Here’s PopCultHQ’s spoiler-free review of…
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DANGER DOLL SQUAD #0
Writers: Jason Martin,
Dan Mendoza and Bryan Seaton
Artists: Winston Young, Celor, Marco Maccagni
Cover Artists:
Celor (Covers A-B),
Dan Mendoza (Covers C-D),
Bill McKay (Covers E-F)
32 pgs./ M / FC
$4.99
When a powerful threat combining all three character’s worst foes emerges and threatens to destroy their world, the queen of the undead, Zombie Tramp; the slashing and slaying comic book bad girl, Vampblade; and the 3D printed 17th century witch hunter, DollFace; must work together or be destroyed.
The book comes with three regular and risque cover variants, as well as retailer exclusives. The road to DANGER DOLL SQUAD #1 continues later that same month in VAMPBLADE SEASON TWO #6 as well as issues 7 and 8, leading up to its release this October.
<DOLLFACE Doll Debuts at SDCC2017 – Robert Tonner Creates Lila the Witch Hunter Collectible>
VARIANT COVERS
PopCultHQ’s Comic Book Review:
DANGER DOLL SQUAD #0
I was so excited for this series to launch that I couldn’t wait a few more days until Action Lab sent out review copies. Thankfully the team there is beyond amazing and they let me at an advance copy. First and foremost…if you are new to any one, or all, of these characters’ individual titles (Zombie Tramp, Vampblade, Dollface), no worries! Within this issue, you get a brief intro to each character and some background to get you right up to speed. You’ll also find their own personalities on full display giving you a great sense of how fantastic this team-up is going to be.
Janey “Zombie Tramp” Belle, Katie “Vampblade” Carva, and Lila “Dollface” Thorsguard are all brought together to The Black Room. Ivan, the sperm-shaped AI from Dollface, plays almost a Charlie role to the ladies’ Angels as he gathers the girls and gives them their mission. Between their personalities playing off one another and the thrilling action we’re sure to see, DANGER DOLL SQUAD has all the makings of the most fun and exciting mash-up of 2017. #DangerDollSquadGoals
Writing:
Writers Martin, Mendoza, and Seaton have proven themselves with their individual work. In DANGER DOLL SQUAD, not only do they get to continue to grow and expand their famous characters, they themselves are teaming up and working together for a common purpose. Perhaps they’re the Danger Dan Squad? (<– I’m not good at this). I was curious to see how the writing would come out bringing this trio together and I have to say I got more than I had expected. The writing is spot-on, fantastic delivery, the ideal amount of backstory, and they made it perfect for everyone, regardless your familiarity of each character. The writing team went beyond their A-game on this one.
Art:
Though the intro page in DANGER DOLL SQUAD #0 gives credit to each artist and the specific pages they worked on, it’s difficult to critique their work individually. Just as the title is a collaboration of writers, the artists are united in their contributions to this issue. So let’s review their work collectively. Artists Celor, Marco Maccagni, and Winston Young make a great tandem at bringing their styles together to not only continue with the well-known look to these veteran characters, but but deliver a bold and exciting feel to the story. As well-scripted as the writing is in this issue, the illustrations are sharper than Katie Carva’s blades. Ivan’s virtual “playland” has nice futuristic Tron feel to it, which would put Janey’s comment on the money. Good use of panels, nothing excessive, and beautiful characterizations of Action Lab’s leading ladies. The artists came together, played nice with one another, and a brilliant first (zero) issue is the result.
Jason Martin joins Richard Garcia, Chris Northrop, and Valentina Pucci on colors and these pages just pop! The excitement from this series emanates greatly from the color art alone. Each colorist compliments their respective artist(s) and the collaboration felt between this team is just as great as the prior mentioned. Great energy from colors!
Justin Birch comes in and knocks it out of the park. His work was the first thing to stand out to me. In the intro to the characters, Birch does a terrific job at distinguish the type of dialog in the captions with smart fonts and boldness. His effects add to the coloring team’s intensity and Justin has great placement. An asset to the title.
PopCultHQ’s overall assessment:
DANGER DOLL SQUAD #0 does what a zero issue should do when it’s released prior to issue one: familiarize the reader with the major players of the title, provide ample backstory on each character, and detail the gist of the series for what you can expect from future releases. There is so much delivered in this issue but it’s done methodically and not overloading the reader with excess fluff to fill pages. You get the full premise of the series, introductory character development, and a story concept that makes it a highly desirable title to follow, if not add to your pull list. The characters are fun and appealing on their own, but collectively this Squad’s interactions with one another is where the comedic value of the series will come into play.
For readers who may be new to any one, or all, individual titles these lethal ladies come from, the delivery in this issue make it a perfect jumping-on point to all three. The art is expressive and lively, the colors pop, and the narrative will make you a fan.
PopCultHQ’s Rating:
5 Out of 5 Stars
DANGER DOLL SQUAD #0 can be pre-ordered NOW on ComiXology
and available at your local comic shop and online retailers Wednesday, August 9th!
<[Interview] Amazing Las Vegas Comic Con 2017: Dan Mendoza>
UP NEXT:
DANGER DOLL SQUAD #1
Artist: Winston Young
Cover Artists:
Celor
Dan Mendoza
Winston Young
Our three most popular Danger Zone titles: Zombie Tramp, Vampblade, and DollFace come together to form the all-new Danger Doll Squad! When each girl’s deadliest foes merge together, our terrible threesome must enter “the black room”, a virtual reality inside cyberspace, to do battle against Necro Magic AI!!!
The biggest Danger Zone crossover event starts here,
with covers by the artist of each series (each with their own risqué variant as well)!
VARIANT COVERS
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/Cover Artist – Celor
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Artist – Marco Maccagni
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Artist – Winston Young
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Colorist – Chris Northrop
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Colorist – Richard Garcia
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Colorist – Valentina Pucci
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Letterer – Justin Birch
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Cover Artist – Bill McKay
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Publisher – Action Lab: Danger Zone
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