Up the River is the second comic book series that I’ve seen from Joshua Werner and Source Point Press. I think it’s particularly important for me to review products like this because the “little guys” are usually pushed under the radar by the bigger comic book artists and publishers. Still… I will say that Up the River has better art and panels than The Walking Dead comics, though I am a fan of both. Here’s a few more of my thoughts having been provided with issue #1 of this new series.
Up the River Issue #1 was written by Travis McIntire with pencils and inks by Stephen Sharar. The comic was colored by Sean Seal with editor and letterer Joshua Werner. Currently the comic book is available on Kickstarter for its backers – who helped to raise $4,100 to make this baby a reality – and through comic vendor extraordinaire Drive Thru Comics as a .pdf download for only $1.49! Up the River follows “a young boy, Syl, who witnesses the murder of his superhero father in the streets of Third City. Years later, Syl and his younger brother Arnie set out with the crew of a river boat to take him up the treacherous Hard Silt River to find answers. Set in a uniquely created post-apocalyptic future that is both horrific and fascinating, this is one adventure that puts a fresh twist on the idea of super-powered humans and a strong emphasis on character development.”
As I mentioned, Up the River has some really awe inspiring art. From the characters, the coloring and the background to the effects and lettering… Everyone who worked on this issue is extremely talented. I’m highly impressed. I think the best way to describe the panels is the traditional 80s and 90s style of comic book creation that has been pulled into the modern era. It really pops and has a few extra layers of realism that gives it an almost 3D looking quality, but it doesn’t look like it was processed and created digitally. This is going to be the biggest draw for comic book fans, more-so than the story.
Speaking of which, the plot of Up the River is nothing short of genius. It does an expert job at mixing the zombie genre with superheros. This simple yet effective tactic opens up the appeal of this comic to almost every comic book reader. You need people getting ripped to shreds? It’s right here. You need a heavy dose of super heroes? Look no further. Suspense, mystery, supernatural, guns, action, interesting characters and a blood red river with untapped potential to become one of the best original villains in a comic book series. Up the River really has it all and I give writer Travis McIntire a lot of credit for thinking of something so original that’s non-compromising, subtle in approach but hits all the right spots for readers looking for gore and superheros. I can’t rave enough about the plot.
Well written, well drawn with an innovative concept and massive potential. I’m glad that Source Point Press is helping to get this one out to the public. It’s definitely worth the price of a download. I guarantee you’ll be hooked and anxiously awaiting issue #2.
Final Score: 8.5 out of 10
