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I’m gonna start with the obvious, I read a lot of comic books. I love the feeling when I get my hands on a new book that I know zero about. Gasolina happens to be the book that fits the description this week. I saw the cover with a couple standing in the desert, skeletons buried underneath, a young lady holding a shotgun, and the whole time I hear “Read me! Read me!” Who am I to argue when a book comes calling?
So what is Gasolina?
That’s the million dollar question, as I am also trying to figure out what Gasolina is all about. There is a lot going on in this first issue; typically first issues establish the characters, and give a little taste of what is to come. Gasolina takes that formula, and throws it right out the damn window. The approach is part a breath of fresh air and part WTF? Did I mention there were aliens?
Go on……
Writer and creator Sean Mackiewicz certainly has his hands full with this story. The pair on the cover, Randy and Amalia are cane farmers with hints they are on the run from someone or maybe something. Throw in a shooting, a kidnapping, family drama, and some buggy aliens that eat you from the inside out and you got yourself a pretty damn interesting tale. We don’t learn a lot of details about Randy and Amalia, but we do learn they can handle a messy situation with ease and finesse. Very little is shared about the cartel and the aliens, but that isn’t a bad thing. Important takeaway: Gasolina #1 left me wanting more. And I will be back for more.
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Artist and creator Niko Walter’s art is attractive. A lot of it focuses on the characters: the details of their faces are sharp and creates the dramatic element. The Mexico backdrop is something to appreciate and take in. Many books lack the gripping setting that Walter has laid out for the reader. Mat Lopes finishes the ensemble with his great colors. The shadowing sets the tone that this story isn’t all rainbows and kittens. It is dark, grim, and there is always present danger.
Overall, Gasolina was a pleasant surprise for me. I did read this first issue twice because there is an incredible amount to take in. The first read through, I was thinking, there is entirely too damn much going on here. The second read through, I was able to see Mackiewicz’s vision clearer and I welcome what is coming next. I did mention there were aliens, right?
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