CBR Xombi (2011)

 

Time to check out some less popular, less known American comic books.
Today's title, a "weird" light horror lil' comic going by the name....

Comic title: Xombi
Art by Frazer Irving
Story by John Rozum
Brave & The Bold feature art by Scott Hampton

Published by DC
From 2011
Lineup Xombi
Format:Trade Paperback collecting the entire six-issue Xombi series as well as The Brave and The Bold #26.

Originally pitched by writer/producer Dwayne McDuffie and created at Milestone Comics, a little independent publisher created to for African-American comic book creators, Xombi is probably one of the most original ideas to come out of that group.
Milestone was founded in the early 90s and was home to many original characters such as the popular and endearing Static Shock.
But unlike the others original ideas from Milestone, Xombi finds its roots in the old creepy and eerie 1980s comics. (too much Milestone characters suffer from the "Extreeeeeme!"-approach usual for 90s characters, just take a look at Hardware or Icon!)

Xombi is also a minority group, but isn't defined by it at all.
Rather is comics are a sort of mix of scifi and fantasy similar to DC/Vertigo's Constantine: Hellblazer.

This book is the first properly developed at DC Comics after they purchased the Milestone group, and after Xombi's original series. It was supposed to be an on-going series, but was stopped due to the company-wide relaunch ("The New 52").

David Kim was a simple man.
He had a fiancée, Dalia Rose, with whom things seemed to go for the better.
From Korean origin, he was a big shot scientist in Dakoto, who came from the New Jersey.
He had developed fantastic nanotechnology which, bonded with living organisms acted as a sort of virus.
One day due to an accident, he was mortal wounded. His assistant used the nanotechnological virus to help him....but ended "used" as raw material in the process.
Now, turned into a "xombi", David has become immortal, he is physically enhanced to his peak physical form and has the ability to regenerate from any condition.

Xombi was originally created by created by John Rozum and Denys Cowan.
This comic sees the return of his co-creator Rozum on his character over a decade later. He created Xombi and knows this character the best, and it shows.
The comic is fun, quite entertaining and really a unique read.

This new adventure sees David facing giant monsters of biblical proportions, ghouls and ghosts of all kinds and taking on flying fortresses.
His friend Julian Parker tags along, alongside a couple of crazy nuns, a "Catholic Girl" and more!
Our unnatural unlikely team of misfits face an evil mastermind prepared for every potential threat...

David is now living in the strangest worlds, facing things unlike anything he ever thought to ever see and yet tries to keep a foot in his old life as it was.
It's a fun story, full of deep thoughts on what it means to go through changes and what you would do to keep it from changing.

It is also a gorgeous well illustrated book. The artwork of Frazer Irving is simply outstanding.
The colors really set the tone of this fantastic world. Background might seem a bit empty or secondary, but it really contributes to this comic's tone.

As a "bonus", DC thrown in issue 26 of The Brave and the Bold comic, which was already collected in its own collection, but it's not a reason to dismiss this little addition.

It features a team up of Xombi with The Spectre.
A ghost is seemingly on a killing rampage, eating lifeforces of various creatures, from ghosts to vampires..and getting closer and closer to the living each time.
Xombi tries to reason with the former-Crispus Allen, now The Spectre. He was a cop in his anterior life, perhaps he can be reasoned with...

It's a pretty simple and straightforward story, too short to go anywhere really. But it's a fun portrayal of this new Spectre and Xombi and his cast all get their little moments to shine.

Overall, a very fun book. Recommended!

You like supernatural stories such as Hellboy and the B.P.R.D? Well this is right up your alley!
No need to read the previous Xombi stories, David Kim is only on his 2nd month being a xombi (which would consist on the entire previous series).

Creepy, but not horror. Fantastic, but not fantasy.

I give it:

  2.5 / 3 Plastic-trophies!