THE DRAYCOX AWAKENS (VOL. 1), from Atop Throne Comics on 5/3/23, follows Michael, a High School student enduring years of bullying who acquires superpowers to satisfy his thirst for revenge.
The Details
- Written by: Jonathan Minott
- Art by: Owolah, Alice Holtom
- Colors by: Owolah
- Letters by: Owolah
- Cover art by: Owolah
- Comic Rating: Teen+
- Cover price: $5.13
- Release date: May 3, 2023
Is THE DRAYCOX AWAKENS (VOL. 1) Good?
Before we dig into it, be warned that THE DRAYCOX AWAKENS (VOL. 1) is a tough read on two levels. First, this volume deals with themes of bullying that lead a young man to turn to violence in a school setting. Second, THE DRAYCOX AWAKENS (VOL. 1) is badly in need of an editor.
[Editor’s note: After publishing this review, we were contacted by the publisher with an updated version of the volume, explaining the review was based on a mistakenly-sent early draft. After reviewing the final copy, the overall writing critique hasn’t changed, but the art has improved considerably in spots. The score was changed to reflect the improvement in art.]
Jonathan Minott’s script focuses on Michael, a lonely High School kid who suffers a life of getting shuffled from one foster home to the next while he endures constant, savage bullying at school. When Michael discovers a recently crashed meteorite that imbues him with superpowers, Michael wastes no time dishing out brutal payback to his tormentors and anyone who gets in his way.
To be clear, there are no guns in this issue, but the sequence of events and Michael’s superpowered outburst may remind some readers of the circumstances surrounding a school shooting. If you’re considering picking up this volume, consider the age range and sensitivities of the intended readers.
What’s great about THE DRAYCOX AWAKENS (VOL. 1)? Minott’s central idea has merit, as long as you’re fine with the potentially sensitive subject matter. Putting a superpowered twist on revenge against school bullies and neglectful parents has been done with some success in the past, but there’s plenty of fertile ground to explore because everyone can relate to revenge.
What’s not so great about THE DRAYCOX AWAKENS (VOL. 1)? Minott’s script is badly in need of an editor. Several narration captions are unnecessarily huge blocks of text, describing the scene the artist is already presenting. The lettering placement is poor, with word balloons frequently out of order from the reading direction. Grammar and spelling mistakes abound, and the dialog is super rough. The seed of an idea is present, but Minott stumbles on script-writing basics.
How’s the art? Overall, not bad. Owolah’s visual presentation is generally decent, and the layouts are solid. Taken as a whole, the art is better than the writing.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.
What’s THE DRAYCOX AWAKENS (VOL. 1) About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
We begin with a description of Michael – a teenager struggling with loneliness and bullying at his High School. Michael tries to fit in or at least find some semblance of peace, but he’s abused at every turn. His foster parents are good people, but they frequently neglect to provide any attention.
Michael resolves to participate in the school’s talent show, but any attempts to socialize are stymied by Michael’s tormentor, Kyle. One day, Michael notices a bright light streaking across the sky, and he follows the streak to a nearby field. Michael finds a crater with a blue, egg-shaped object. The egg opens, and a winged figure flies out and attaches itself to Michael’s chest. Suddenly, Michael’s body is flooded with strength, speed, and power.
We conclude the volume with bloody retribution, ill-equipped authorities, and an equal but opposite force.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
(Click this link 👇 to order this comic)
THE DRAYCOX AWAKENS (VOL. 1) takes the difficult topic of a school shooting and gives it an interesting, superpowered twist. The setup is universally relatable, and the main character’s journey is harrowing, but the story lacks proper scriptwriting techniques on nearly every level.
We hope you found this article interesting. Come back for more reviews, previews, and opinions on comics, and don’t forget to follow us on social media:
If you’re interested in this creator’s works, remember to let your Local Comic Shop know to find more of their work for you. They would appreciate the call, and so would we.
Click here to find your Local Comic Shop: www.ComicShopLocator.com
As an Amazon Associate, we earn revenue from qualifying purchases to help fund this site. Links to Blu-Rays, DVDs, Books, Movies, and more contained in this article are affiliate links. Please consider purchasing if you find something interesting, and thank you for your support.