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Posted on Aug 12, 2004 - 04:47 PM by Admin |
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Every now and then a new publisher barrels out of the gate with a comic book that will make you sit up and take notice - a debut that just blows you away. Well, prepare to be blown away! Xmoor Studios’ Galtow is just such a comic book! Take an exciting story that reads like Mortal Kombat meets Mad Max, add in some truly amazing art and you can only come to one conclusion: you’ve gotta get Galtow!
I’m always on the look out for the next big thing and the next must read comic book. I literally spend hours prowling through the second half of Previews catalogs checking out the many independent offerings, hoping to find a comic with an intriguing story and impressive art. And even then, I still might miss the next big thing. That’s where enthusiastic creators come in.
Writer Robert Garrett contacted me and asked if I would be interested in checking out a new book called Galtow. After checking out the impressive, above average Xmoor Studios website, I knew I was in for a treat. However, I never expected a treat like THIS!
I found myself instantly attracted to this comic because it reminded me of the videogame Mortal Kombat. I spent a good deal of my paychecks in the early 90s dropping quarters into that game, and wore many a blister on my fingers when I bought a copy of the game for my Super Nintendo. However, to classify Galtow as a simple “fight comic” would not do this excellent book justice.
Although I’m a big fan of such videogames as Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter, I have never been a big fan of “fight comics.” Many of these comics are just that - fights. No substance. Little plot. Just a lot of fighting. I’m married, so I get to see plenty of that. I want a comic with some depth and an intriguing storyline. Galtow delivers that and much more!
Set in the not too distant future, Galtow takes place in a darker, almost post-apocalyptic New York that would do Mad Max proud. Set almost twenty-five years since the conclusion of The Second Vietnam War, this future is the result of conflicts fought over the years between the Great Clan Houses. After the government was overrun by an escalation of crime, a new breed of warriors emerged. Warrior classes have replaced gangs as social classes, as these men and women have embraced the codes of warriors from ancient Japan and China.
Now, fighters - Ninja, Samurai and Yakuza - wage violent battles in the streets hoping to gain the attention and respect of the elite fighters. These fighters place a low value on their own lives and the live of everyone around them. These warriors live for the moment of the fight, which they call "Galtow." And to be a Galtow master is to exceed all other warriors. So, these warriors will go to any length to become a Galtow master, including genetic enhancements and cyborg augmentations.
In this debut issue, writer Robert Garrett begins what promises to be a complex, but exciting storyline. Garrett uses this first issue to set the stage by introducing readers to some instantly memorable warriors involved in some of the most amazing fights every captured on the comic book page.
One of the first characters we are introduced to - and already a fan favorite - is Keylon Jakes. The heir to Samurai Clan, Jakes is an imposing figure with a cool look. Armed with only his fighting skills, a sword and Wolverine-like claws, this eye-patch-wearing warrior is without a doubt a powerhouse who doesn’t back down when the odds are stacked against him!
The next character we meet is my personal favorite in this debut issue: the femme fatale known as Cafa. Cafa is an enigmatic assassin who does what she wants to whom she wants! The recipient of several genetic experimentations, Cafa is more animal than human and has an eerie look, similar to the Marvel Universe’s Carrion!
The most mysterious character - and perhaps the runaway star of the story - is the woman known as Jiya. This Samurai woman is often called the “Silent Warrior”, and for good reason. After a run in with rhino-DNA-enhanced warriors, Jiya lost the use of her vocal cords, plus her right arm, left leg and part of her skull had to be augmented with bionics. Now, this rebuilt, silent-but-deadly warrior woman has returned for revenge.
Garrett delivers much more story in this issue than I could ever cover in a simple review. Usually, I frown upon flipping to the back of a comic first, but in this case it will actually improve your Galtow reading experience. Garrett provides some character profiles in the back of this book that will flesh out these memorable characters even more. I also found this issue even more intriguing after I visited the Galtow information page on Xmoor Studio’s website.
It’s clear that Garrett is working on a vast epic here. And the best thing about this debut issue of Galtow? Garrett’s story will leave you wanting more! I would have loved it if this book had been double-sized, because I want to know what happens next…I want to know now! It’s rare for a brand new comic with brand new characters to do that. It’s even rarer when it’s a brand new publisher’s debut in the industry. That’s a very promising sign for the future of Galtow and Xmoor Studios.
Raving about Galtow #1 wouldn’t be complete with talking about the stunning art of Patrick David. David illustrates an incredible comic book! If this guy is a newcomer, you wouldn’t be able to tell from his art! This is some of the most impressive art I’ve seen in awhile!
David gives Galtow a powerful feel. David illustrates some of the best fights scenes this side of Jim Lee. David’s fight scenes flow and keep the story moving at a fast, but natural pace. David gives these characters a cool, but fierce look that will immediately make them stand out in the reader’s mind, especially the eerie looking Cafa and the mysterious Jiya!
Remember the names Robert Garrett and Patrick David. Remember the name Galtow. You are going to be seeing some big things from these talented creators and this promising comic book. No doubt about it, Galtow is one comic book you’ve gotta get.
Galtow #1 is scheduled to be released in September 2004. If you can’t wait until then, you can buy Galtow #1 and get more information about this book at Xmoor Studios.Com.
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