Kneel Before Doomface #1 (Independent, 5/1/25): Writer Aaron Sparrow and artist Renzo Rodriguez resurrect the long-imprisoned Doomface after decades, but the world is not as he left it. Superhero comics with a comedic twist have always been a tough sell, but Sparrow and company make it look easy. Verdict: Wholly entertaining.
Credits:
- Writer: Aaron Sparrow
- Artist: Renzo Rodriguez
- Colorist: Oscar Carreno
- Letterer: Deron Bennett
- Cover Artist: Renzo Rodriguez (cover A)
- Publisher: Independent
- Release Date: May 1, 2025
- Comic Rating: Teen
- Cover Price: $10
- Page Count: 52
- Format: Double-sized
Covers:
Analysis of Kneel Before Doomface #1:
First Impressions:
In the interests of full disclosure, I personally know and associate (virtually) with Aaron Sparrow, so when he asked to have Kneel Before Doomface #1 reviewed, I paused. Primarily because Aaron knows I don’t pull punches. If it’s good, I say so. If it’s not, I say so. Thankfully, Aaron’s confidence was warranted.
Recap:
Years ago, the world was under siege by a nefarious supervillain called Doomface. At the hour of his greatest triumph, aided by a mystical crown, Doomface was defeated. His downfall was enabled through the betrayal of his envious brother and the combined efforts of Earth’s mightiest heroes. The story picks up decades later.
Plot Analysis (SPOILERS):
A crew of fame-seeking ghost hunters enters the abode of now-deceased Supreme Sorcerer Aleister Thorne. During their careless filming, the host breaks an artifact that contains the trapped spirit of Doomface. Freed, Doomface wastes no time posturing over his need for revenge. After dispatching the dude-bro host of the ghost hunters, the remaining crew, led by PR manager Lexi, encourages Doomface to spare their lives in exchange for documenting his reclamation of power and to show him the ropes of modern life.
When Doomface is shown the wonders (and horrors) of the 21st Century, hilarity ensues.
Elsewhere, low-level hero Spam and his inflatable sidekick iguana Iggy line up to show off their exploits to renowned superhero Captain Smash. The Captain is an arrogant, conceited prick who ignores the nearby alarms of a robbery. Spam and Iggy use the opportunity to foil the robber, a Russian with serpentine limbs and an unfortunate grasp of English, named Manaconda. When Spam and Iggy defeat Manaconda, they hope Captain Smash will consider bringing them on as colleagues.
The issue ends with Doomface making his presence known to the world, which catches the attention of an old acquaintance.
How is the story in Kneel Before Doomface #1?
Aaron Sparrow’s send-up of superhero comics is clean, precise, and well-constructed. You may think that’s not a big deal, but in the modern comics industry, it’s a rare thing to bring readers into the world and characters with so little effort. You get who’s who and what’s what with ease.
Sparrow’s plot flows beautifully, the characters are memorable (more on that in a minute), and the issue leaves you wanting more.
Most importantly, the humor lands. Sure, humor can be subjective, but Sparrow doesn’t go too subtle or over-the-top with the jokes, which makes the entire story enjoyable.
Conversely, there are two sticking points. First, the dialog goes on a bit too long in a few spots. You’re not in wall-of-text territory, but there are one or two pages where a look or a nod would have saved a few word balloons. Second, there’s a lack of “fun and games” before the issue ends, leading to a case of narrative blue balls. Doomface is told about the world, but the amount of Doomface’s interaction with the world, which would have garnered the biggest moments, is reserved for (presumably) part two, so the ending doesn’t satisfy as much as it could have.
However, these are minor quibbles in an otherwise enjoyable story.
How is the art in Kneel Before Doomface #1?
Renzo Rodriguez may have quite possibly worn his fingers to nubs with the sheer amount of artistic detail in this comic. Truly, this book has pencil/ink detail on par with a Gary Frank comic, which is an astounding achievement for a comic of this size. Furthermore, Rodriguez’s exceptional level of detail is matched by Deron Bennett’s jaw-dropping color application.
Contours, shading, highlights – it’s all here with exquisite precision. If you’re an indie creator, you’d be wise to pick up this comic to understand how high the bar can be set.
Characters
Focus splits between the antagonist, Doomface, and who we presume are the protagonists, Spam and Iggy. Both sides of the coin get roughly equal space to introduce themselves and orient them in the world. Doomface has the more charming introduction because a villain out of time is a perfect setup for jokes that almost write themselves. On the other hand, Spam and Iggy rely on the lovable loser setup as they try to get the attention of their more-famous compatriots through heart and sheer determination. Spam and Iggy’s journey is solid but not as immediately engaging as Doomface’s, so Sparrow has a challenge in continuing a story wherein the heroes are not as interesting as the villain.
Originality & Concept Execution
The pieces of the story are not that original, but the collective combination is. We’ve seen “villains trapped for decades returning” before. We’ve seen man-out-of-time setups before. We’ve seen “low-level heroes with the heart of a lion but struggling to break through” before. What you haven’t seen is all those elements put together like Kneel Before Doomface #1.
If you haven’t picked it up by now, Aaron Sparrow and the art team execute the concept masterfully, minor quibbles aside.
Pros and Cons
Art Samples:
The Scorecard:
Writing Quality (Clarity & Pacing): 3.5/4
Art Quality (Execution & Synergy): 4/4
Value (Originality & Entertainment): 1.5/2
Final Thoughts:
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Kneel Before Doomface #1 is a refreshingly well-constructed and jaw-droppingly rendered tale about a supervillain freed from his prison to unleash Hell on the modern world. Aaron Sparrow’s plot and humor land almost flawlessly, and the art team’s presentation sets a high bar for all indie creators everywhere. This comic is worth your time and money.
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