Crash and Troy are mercenaries for hire, set on a mission to break out a blue alien guy. Little do they know that breaking him out will cost more lives than their pay grade can even rack!!
Going into this book, I wasn’t entirely sure why to expect, and that was a good thing because this book is more entertaining than expected! Jarred Luján writes this 4 issue mini-series and does a magnificent job at writing this story with a fantastic cast of misfits and an interesting universe that feels lived in and well throughout. Clearly this story is set in the far future, following the high jinks of Human/Mutant, Crash, and his partner in crime, a conscious turned software being known as Troy 3.0. Both of these characters have chemistry and humorous exchanges that keep the book grounded and relatable despite the large sci-fi landscape that they reside in. The premise is simple, but the events that unfold are complicated for the protagonists but utterly hilarious and surprising to the reader. There are some great subtle political undertones that really made this book a comedic joyride throughout. Crash and Troy have no idea what they’ve unleashed into the galaxy, but the implications that stem from their actions is an explosive domino effect that will keep readers invested.
Luján does a fantastic job at writing Crash and Troy as two clashing personalities that make them a fantastic duo, but what really makes this book shine, is the humor and world-building. One thing that I had a minor issue with is the idea that Netflix could still be that popular in the far future. It might make the book feel a bit dated, but that’s just a minor nitpick. Then again, there are many brands that are still discussed and bought today, so the idea of Netflix still existing might not be that far-fetched. Luján might be onto something with that! All in all, it’s cleverly written and the universe that Luján displays will have readers curious as to what might be explored and the possible world-building that comes from this mini-series.
The art by Kyle Clodfelter is stylistically amazing and perfect for this kind of story. It really compliments the writing while also enhancing it in a way that gets the humor across visually. The layouts and action are wonderfully choreographed and illustrated in a way that is enjoyable to look at. It could have easily been drawn in a gritty way that would have sabotaged the fun tone of the writing, but in Clodfelter’s hands, he is able to walk that tightrope of displaying action while making it aesthetically satisfying without it feeling gratuitous. The colorwork by Bruno Furlani is cosmic and cinematically compliments Clodfelter’s linework, elevating the bombastic energy that this story delivers. Buddy Beaudoin does an excellent job providing lettering, effectively displaying every character’s personality, while also carefully placing it with the art that compliments it, making this an enjoyable read throughout.
If you combine Guardians of The Galaxy, and you put it in a blender with the movie Tango and Cash, with a sprinkle of The Interview, you end up with this intergalactic concoction known as Crash and Troy. It is a genuinely fun book that balances humor and action like a well-balanced meal. This is a promising start to a new series that is worthwhile checking out! This comic will be released on 7/21, so It is definitely worth pre-ordering the book ahead of time so you can read it!
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