BRO-D CAN’T BE BROKEN, from Band of Bards in January 2023, imagines a near-future world where humanity is on the brink of coming together. Unfortunately, the gods of old decided to stop any hope of unity.
The Details
- Written by: Ben Humeniuk
- Art by: Ben Humeniuk
- Colors by: Ben Humeniuk
- Letters by: Ben Humeniuk
- Cover art by: Ben Humeniuk
- Comic Rating: Young Adult
- Cover price: $14.99
- Release date: January 2023
Is It Good?
Promising. BRO-D CAN’T BE BROKEN is promising. Set decades from now on an Earth on the brink of global unity, Ben Humeniuk’s story imagines what happens when the self-proclaimed ancient gods awaken to stop another Tower of Babel scenario. In response, a group of superpowered individuals forms a team to stop the gods and their monsters from wrecking humanity’s future.
Ben Humeniuk’s YA-geared story has a little bit of something for everyone. You have a world presented as on the brink of a new Golden Age, without borders, Global Warming, or any of the social ills of today. You have a nearly unstoppable foe inspired by Biblical giants, and you have a superpowered teenager (18) who brings with him all the uncertainty, angst, and romance you’d expect from a YA protagonist. Kudos to Humewniuk for taking familiar bits and pieces and crafting something that feels truly original.
Regarding the writing execution, Humeniuk earns a big thumbs up. You get plenty of action to keep the energy and pacing high. The dialog is (mostly) on-point. There’s a fair bit of emotional weight within the relationships. The stakes are high. And the ending is satisfying.
Are there any down points? Yes, in three areas – two minor and one a little more than minor.
First, the dialog drags due to repetition in posts. Bro-D wrestles with conflicting emotions over his crush while he fights the giant, and the people around him continually ask him if he’s okay. Everyone around Bro-D keeps asking why he seems distracted or warns him to stay focused, and the repetition starts to become tedious. This isn’t a major issue, but it’s noticeable, and it puts a drag on the reading.
Second, the art is okay but not great. Humeniuk’s art style is rough, sketchy, and lacking in polish. We like the character designs, and Humeniuk has a strong handle on panel composition and scene transitions, but the line work is weak. This is a minor down point, but hard to miss.
Third, last, and more significant is the lack of setup for Bro-D. Humeniuk does a fine job setting up the world and the giant Bro-D faces, but almost no time is devoted to explaining Bro-D. Where did he come from? Why does he have powers? How and why did he join a superhero team? What motivates him? If his teammate dies, how does her death affect his original motivations? Presumably, Bro-D’s backstory could be explored in another issue, but as it stands here, all you could say is the kid’s got a lot of courage.
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What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
We begin with narration describing Earth in 2095. Most of the world’s social ills have been irradicated. Humanity is on the brink of becoming a true global community. Unfortunately, powerful beings called the Deywos have emerged, claiming to be the ancient gods that ruled Earth. If humanity unites, the Deywos will lose all power, so the Deywos send giants and monsters to instill fear of the gods back into humanity.
One day, a fearsome Nephil called Bregghammer is unleashed in the capital city with the task of destroying the central fusion reactor and wiping out the city in one shot. Humanity’s only hope is a nearby hero, Bro-D, sent to intercept Bregghammer before he can reach the reactor. Bro-D’s fighting training, unbreakable force fields, and enhanced strength aren’t enough to stop Bregghammer, but he may be able to endure enough punishment to slow the giant down.
We conclude the issue with unproclaimed love, a heck of a beating, and a level-up.
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Final Thoughts
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BRO-D CAN’T BE BROKEN is a promising introduction to a teenage superhero who joins a team to stop the gods of old from scuttling humanity’s new Golden Age. The story has plenty of action, heart, and dramatic tension, but the line work could be better, and the main character lacks setup.
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