FRANCIS & THE VEGAS TRAMPS, from Brian Kelly on Kickstarter, launches into a crime noir murder mystery fueled by sex, drugs, and rock ‘n roll.
The Details
- Written by: Brian Kelly
- Art by: Brian Kelly
- Colors by: Brian Kelly
- Letters by: Brian Kelly
- Cover art by: Brian Kelly
- Comic Rating: Teen
- Cover price: $8.67
- Release date: September 2023 (estimated)
Is FRANCIS & THE VEGAS TRAMPS Good?
We bet you never expected to read a futuristic sci-fi murder mystery with Elvis impersonators, drug cartels, and clones, but here we are. If nothing else, FRANCIS & THE VEGAS TRAMPS is a memorable experience.
Brian Kelly’s sci-fi murder mystery centers on the bandmates of the now-defunct Francis & The Vegas Tramps coming back together after many years apart when the lead singer, Francis, is brutally murdered. Molly, the one bandmate who went on to greater success after the band’s breakup, is determined to find the killer when all signs point to a connection to the band’s past.
You may notice FRANCIS & THE VEGAS TRAMPS Irated as Teen, but there are some mature themes and implied nudity that may tip the scales closer to Mature. There’s nothing particularly graphic in this comic in terms of sex or violence, but you may want to tread carefully when presenting this comic to younger readers.
What’s great about FRANCIS & THE VEGAS TRAMPS? The strength of Kelly’s story lies in the mashup of Vagas-themed rock ‘n roll and a detective noir mystery. You may think those two great tastes don’t taste great together, but Kelly makes it work admirably.
What’s not so great about FRANCIS & THE VEGAS TRAMPS? At a high level, the dialog is clunky in spots, the pacing drags on a few pages, and the overall flow of the story lacks dramatic punch. The execution is generally fine, but the difference between an okay indie comic and a great indie comic is the polish and details. FRANCIS & THE VEGAS TRAMPS lacks polish. For example, there’s more than one flashback/time jump when it wasn’t obvious that a flashback was starting, so you feel like you made a wrong turn and have to double back to reset yourself.
How’s the art? Kelly’s art is good. The character designs are memorable, and the brief bits of action are okay. There are a few spots where the subtle realization of the moment isn’t obvious due to where the characters are looking and what they’re doing, but you get the gist.
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What’s FRANCIS & THE VEGAS TRAMPS About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
We begin with a grizzled Elvis impersonator named Francis finishing up his late-night gig and heading to the bar for a drink. He bumps into a sexbot, and the two head back to Francis’s room for adult fun. The next day, Francis is found stabbed to death, and the sexbot is torn apart.
Later, Molly, Blue, and Ray, former bandmates of Francis, arrive to attend his funeral. Haunted by the band’s bad breakup and ugly interpersonal problems, Molly decides to find Francis’s killer with the help of her friends. What Molly finds is a serpentine path of drugs, lies, and clones.
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Final Thoughts
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FRANCIS & THE VEGAS TRAMPS delivers an eclectic mashup of rock ‘n roll drama and a detective noir murder mystery for a fresh take on familiar themes. Brian Kelly’s mystery takes readers on a ride with plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing, while his decent indie art keeps you engaged during the wild action scenes.
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