LAZER BRAIN COMICS #1, from Ryan L. Higgins on May 1st, 2022, brings together short stories to tickle your fantasy fancy – from ancient gods imbuing an ordinary student with powers to competing alien invaders looking for a precious artifact.
The Details
- Written by: Ryan L. Higgins
- Art by: Ryan L. Higgins
- Colors by: Ryan L. Higgins
- Letters by: Ryan L. Higgins
- Cover art by: Ryan L. Higgins
- Cover price: $4.99
- Release date: May 1, 2022
Is It Good?
LAZER BRAIN COMICS #1 is a better-than-average fantasy anthology from indie creator Ryan L. Higgins, collecting a series of first-chapter adventures inspired by films of the 70s and 80s. The collection has a little something for everyone, including superhero origins, fairytales about monsters that hide in your room at night, and alien invaders.
While the theme of each story is different, the underlying thread that connects them all is the sense of wonder and adventure when school-age children are faced with the impossible. In short, this collection is delightfully nostalgic and fun.
Typically, the anthology comics we review have their ups and downs, but this comic doesn’t have a stinker in the bunch. Some chapters are shorter than others, but each short has a proper beginning, middle, and end, a fully established protagonist and conflict, and an ending (if it’s part of a series) with a proper cliffhanger.
The tone of each short is squarely focused on the fun and whimsy of the Spielberg film variety. Each protagonist has a distinctive voice and personality, the challenges they face involve a bully, a monster, or both, and the sense of danger they face is palpable yet safe enough for young readers. This is as close to a perfect all-ages indie comic as you can get.
The artwork is appropriately cartoonish but not oversimplified or amateurish. Higgins’s linework is deceptively detailed, the character designs are distinctive, and the action scenes are playfully energetic.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
As with all anthology reviews, we’ll cover each short briefly to give you a taste.
The Rise Of The Red Cat
Nova Nasser attends a school field trip at an ancient antiquities museum. When she steps in to stop an act of bullying by a classmate, Nova is accidentally pushed into an open sarcophagus that transports her into the presence of the Red Lioness, the goddess of justice. If Nova accepts the Red Lioness’s offer to be her avatar for justice, she will emerge as the ultrapowerful Red Cat.
Trouble Sleeping
A young boy recalls a recurring nightmare wherein a giant tears off the roof of his house at night and carries him away. Determined to avoid the giant’s searching gaze, the boy hides under his bed, only to be confronted by a pair of ghouls. As the night wears on, the boy learns there’s nowhere left to hide.
Just The Thing For You
Audrey receives a mysterious package in the mail despite avoiding the order at all costs. When the package arrives, she can’t help but be captivated by the ugly statue inside. Soon, the statue’s hypnotic power leads Audrey down a dark path.
And So Begins The End Of The World!
Filo Farnsworth is out walking his dog at night when he is summoned by a race of aliens to safeguard a precious object – the Cosmocron. When a second race of aliens arrives to claim the Cosmocron for themselves, Filo must avoid bullying classmates, Men in Black, and unruly teachers to figure out what to do with the Cosmocron.
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)
LAZER BRAIN COMICS #1 is a fun, whimsical anthology that draws inspiration from the Spielberg films of the 70s and 80s. The writing is charming and nostalgic, the art fits the theme of the stories to a tee, and the net result is an anthology that doesn’t have a lemon in the bunch.
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.