Review: Jimmy Broxton's Fully Loaded: There Goes The Future #1
How about some dystopian sci-fi noir starring a grizzly, mysterious Centenarian being dragged out of retirement for a personal job in monochrome art that plays perfectly with negative space? Welcome to the new world of Jimmy Broxton's Fully Loaded.
Jimmy Broxton is a UK-based graphic artist, illustrator and art director. A 30-year veteran of the comic industry, he has worked as a writer, penciller, inker, colourist, letterer and designer for the likes of DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Dark Horse Comics, IDW, Warner Bros and Rebellion Publishing. Fully Loaded comes courtesy of Verity Comics in association with Scratch Comics Publications. Awesome creative talents introduced, we'll take a look at this one.
So, let's start with the art. Jimmy Broxton brings brain bothering, bewitching black & white art. This is high calibre artwork full of technical brilliance that fires in every aspect. On top of sterling work, the art has further flashes of exceptional quality with negative space work that is presented perfectly. This is black and white art that utilises the spectrum to its most fullest effect to maximum impact. There's incredibly excellent lighting work and atmospheric landscapes with a strong foundation of character presentation to create some fantastically absorbing art.
Art of this quality defines new fringes of the spectrum that is indie comic book art, further cementing the vital aspects that the indie scene contributes. Impossible to ignore, inspiring stuff. Now the story.
Fully Loaded: There Goes The Future #1 is an overwhelming exposition dump in the best way possible. The apocalypse reborn earth has a fascinating history and a suitably compelling sci-fi future-scape to offer a new world begging to be explored. At breakneck speed, we are introduced to Carson Blake, a particularly cool customer with an unflinching, practical and overzealous approach to violence and a very cool car. We learn a little about his past exploits that hint further at the capabilities of the man so well-versed in violence, while also setting up a perilous foreshadowing of confrontation.
Fully Loaded is a blunt delivery like a mobsters baseball bat or a whirring gatling gun. Like all great sci-fi noir there's plenty of intrigue and peril that certainly sets itself as a prerequisite for violent revenge action with a skilled grizzly protagonist on a mission to save his friend's family. A debt to be repaid in what I'm sure is a safe assumption of blood. There's a lot to absorb narratively with this one, but it's all strong sci-fi dystopian world building that's easy to digest for fans of the genre.
The strength of the storytelling for this one comes from the trope hugging narrative, and delivery of high action entertainment that sets up a most intriguing affair. It's an excellent opener as it gives so much set up as to know exactly what you're buying into, while also learning enough mystery to warrant exciting anticipation for where this one will take us. Visually demanding, narratively actuating work.
Italic interruption to hope you'll be treating yourself to this one and remind you of our Ko-fi if you'd like to support us as well. Thanks for your attention.
For fans of sci-fi, noir, action, apocalypse, sixty five year old Audi TT's named Luisa that make Kit look like a Matchbox toy and would make James Bond green with envy, Mad Max biker gangs, Casio watch pagers, space shuttles and chatty cab drivers with sublime black & white art of the highest prestige, tear a path to Fully Loaded by Jimmy Broxton.
To get your copy, check your local comic book store first or check out the website here.
Review: 4.8/5
