Advance Review: Rainbow Brite 01 by Dynamite
- Details
- Category: Reviews
What is your favorite fictional character's world? (canon/mythology/timeline/universe)
Because a fictional character can be used in many different medium/media and each of those medium/media can be different among themselves. So a story in a storybook, comic book or video game probably won't be mentioned in the tv show of the same fictional character.
As a fictional character grows over the years, those stories can change. These changes do not make the previous stories invalid or wrong, but grow and enrich it's world.
The Rainbow Brite World is growing.
Before Rainbow Land...
Wisp and Willow are different. Wisp is brave and bold while Willow is talented and kind. And while they are not like everyone else, they are perfect for each other. They embrace their differences and compliment each others personalities. It's fun to explore and play pretend with your best friend. But the fun has to end at some time, like when the streetlights are on or the evening turns to rain. Things are about to change, and neither little girl can see it coming.
WRITING
When the news of a new Rainbow Brite Comic was coming I was more than excited. The only American Rainbow Brite comic book was the DC comic published based on the 1985 film "Rainbow Brite and the Star Stealer" and that was a 2 hour film crammed into 31 pages. But I knew this was going to be different.
There isn't a current Rainbow Brite story known to the mainstream media to promote, but this is a great opportunity to write a new one. And the person bringing us a new story is writer Jeremy Whitley.
Jeremy is a diverse comic book writer having written for Marvel, IDW's MLP, and his own creation: "Princeless" a comic series about a self-saving princess. He has been given the chance to give Rainbow (or Wisp as she is originally known) a new voice.
He is doing a great job of establishing specific personalities to Wisp and Willow. Wisp's take charge behavior isn't too much different from her role in "Rainbow Brite and the Star Stealer". This is a welcome connection, especially considering the Star Stealer film is actually the version of Rainbow Brite fans most remember because it was aired on movie channels years after the TV show ended in 1987, and Star Stealer was the first Rainbow Brite DVD released in 2004.
Willow and Wisp remind me of myself when I was young, and how I would play pretend. The girls interactions with adults is also believable. The parents are written well too, such as keeping an eye on their activities and playing along with them instead of stopping their play.
This comic is defiantly "episode 1" of a show. It establishes the characters solidly, but doesn't give away the whole show.
ART/COLORS/LETTERS
The cover art on the books is done by different artists depending on what cover you choose, but the art inside the book is by Brittney Williams.
Brittany Williams style is eclectic. But a lot of that can come from her experiences professionally, drawing for Marvel Comics, Cartoon Network and Warner Brothers Animation.
I'm impressed by the emotions the characters portray with little change to their over all design. Also, the character design is familiar, similar in design to Batman the Animated series with frames used completely without feeling cluttered or overdrawn.
Valentina Pinto's coloring brought each frame to vivid life. She use rich colors and her shading makes characters and scenery pop. For example if it's dark the character's eye colors are reflected and change depth based on the light source and it's intensity.
Taylor Esposito on lettering keeps the story flowing. He uses a variety of fonts which keep the story interesting. The words are a good readable size, with bold emphasis that bring the story along without taking over the balloons.
FINAL SAY
If this comic had any other name on it other than Rainbow Brite, it would be equally enjoyable. I am interested in seeing the story progress and seeing what elements from the original "world" is used, and what has changed. The Rainbow Brite of my generation is still mine. This new one is promising. I look forward to more!
- Comic will cost: $3.99 USD Each
- This issue will be out October 3rd 2018
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4 Variant Covers plus a blank cover: Each will have the same story but different cover art
Cover 1 by Paulina Ganucheau (Zodiac Starforce)'Cover 2 by Tony Fleecs (My Little Pony)
DIGITAL ORDER/PREORDER
- Comixology
- Kindle (Amazon)
- Google Play
DIGITAL ORDER/PREORDER NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE
- iBooks (Apple) (not available yet)
- Dynamite Digital (not available yet)
- iVerse (not available yet)
- Madefire (not available yet)
- Dark Horse Digital (not available yet)