Wednesday, May 31, 2017

Freaky Creatures #1

From the random shelf of unread comics. No idea where I got this one from.

Title: Freaky Creatures
Issue: 1
Publisher: Abandon Interactive Entertainment
Date: 2008
Writer: Matt Saia, Jeff Mariotte
Penciler: Victor Negreiro
Inker: Verissimo
Colorist: Diego Nascimento
Letterer: Michael Thomas
Cover: James Ryman

The numbering is listed as "1/2". I'm interpreting that is "issue one of two" rather than "issue one half" but I suppose it could be either of those.

Based on a (now defunct) MMORPG, this comic serves as an introduction to the game world. Alexx Stargazer, a student in a futuristic college, awakens late for class. After a frantic run through multiple teleportation portals conveniently located around campus, and a few hurried run-ins with friends, Alexx arrives in class just in time to be volunteered for a match on the "Battle Matrix" against his professor.

This battle matrix is an interface with the "Freaky Creatures" of the title, monsters which compete in combat for their human partners. This is probably beginning to sound a bit familiar by now.

Yup, it's a Pokemon knock-off. The creatures are a bit bigger, and the battle matrix replaces gimmicks like Pokeballs, but the basic vibe of monsters competing for human trainers remains.

Also unfortunately, there isn't much in this short glimpse to make the main character all that likeable. He loses focus, even when the safety of his beloved creature is on the line, and he is generally defined by his inability to put his full effort into his training. There was a bit of backstory that helped some, but it wasn't enough to get me interested either in continuing with this comic story or in checking out the online game (if it were still available).

Just not enough originality here.

Rating: 3/10

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