PHOENIX FILES #1 – Comic Review

PHOENIX FILES #1, from Zenescope Entertainment on February 1st, 2023, gives Zenescope’s pyrokinetic secret agent his own story with a mission to find out who (or what) is killing kidnapped women in a ritual sacrifice.

The Details

• Written by: Chas! Pangburn
• Art by: Julius Abrera
• Colors by: Fran Gamboa, J.C. Ruiz
• Letters by: Taylor Esposito
• Cover art by: Igor Vitorino (cover A)
• Comic Rating: Teen+
• Cover price: $5.99
• Release date: February 1, 2023

Is It Good?

Yeah, okay. PHOENIX FILES #1 is a solid start to introduce a new-ish hero to the Zenescope stable of heroes. Technically, Phoenix made one or two cameo appearances in the past, but this is his moment to shine, and Chas! Pangborn does a commendable job giving Phonenix his due.

If there’s one area where Zenescope may take a little criticism, it’s that almost their entire line of titles is exclusively led by women characters. There’s nothing wrong with having women as the lead hero, but it’s nice to get a little variety in the lineup. So PHOENIX FILES #1 puts Agent Phoenix front and center of his own adventure with a mild tie-in to the ongoing theme of Lovecraft-inspired villains spanning Zenescope titles over the last six months. Is this first issue a banger? Mostly, yes.

Chas! Pangborn delivers a solid story centering on Agent Phoenix’s mission to find a cult killer. Intermixed with a flashback describing the circumstances of Phoenix’s birth and the root of his powers, you get plenty of well-crafted story for the cover price. You learn all you need to know about the character’s background, his present circumstances, and a possible nugget to tease what may be coming from him in the future.

You’re reading the word “solid” more than once because that’s the best way to describe this issue. Solid character development, solid pacing, solid dialog, and sold plotting are on display on every page.

As for the art, it’s very good. At the risk of sounding repetitive, it’s “solid.” Abrera’s line work is, admittedly, above average. The coloring from Gamboa and Ruiz is excellent, and Espositio’s lettering is top-notch, as per usual.

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]

We start with a flashback to many years ago. Phoenix was an infant abandoned at a local hospital. All records of his birth mother’s identity were changed, and he’ll never find out who she is. Even if he tried, he may never get the chance because a nurse takes infant Phoenix down to a hidden cavern under the hospital to be used as an offering for a dark ritual. A ritual that would grant Phoenix his fiery powers.

Now, Agent Phoenix is sent on various assignments for a government agency that values his special talents in the field. Agent Phoenix’s latest assignment is to track down the source of a number of bodies washing up on the river’s edge near the town of Harwich, Massachusetts. Agent Phoenix heads out to scour the river banks, looking for known (and unknown) tunnels where the murders could have taken place.

Soon, Agent Phoenix finds a deposit of freshly killed bodies, all wearing necklaces with a mysterious yet familiar sigil. We conclude the issue with trial and error, experimentation interrupted, and a link between the past and present.

Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.

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