THE MADNESS #1, from AWA Studios on 8/9/23, begins a tale of rage and revenge when a superpowered thief accidentally ignites an International incident that changes her life forever.
The Details
- Written by: J. Michael Straczynski
- Art by: ACO, David Lorenzo
- Colors by: Marcelo Maiolo
- Letters by: Sal Cipriano
- Cover art by: ACO
- Comic Rating: Teen+
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: August 9, 2023
Is It Good?
Smart, smart, smart. In THE MADNESS #1, J. Michael Straczynski kicks off a new kind of super story about a superpowered thief who picks the wrong target and pays a hefty price, leading to a tale of transformation, rage, and revenge. If you like superhero comics with a dark twist, ala Invincible and The Boys, and a super smart plot, this debut is right up your alley.
Straczynski’s script centers on The Raven, a superpowered thief with multiple abilities that can only be used one at a time. She gets wind of a gold shipment that could set her up for life, and allow her to retire with her boyfriend. The theft catches the attention of high-level people in multiple governments, forcing a deadly choice in the name of International cooperation.
What’s great about this comic? Stracynski’s script is smart, well-crafted, and hard-hitting. The Raven is a thief that isn’t all bad, but her greed leads to massive consequences that push her life in a new direction with truckloads of motivation for payback. This isn’t a superhero story. It’s a revenge story with superheroes, and it works beautifully.
What’s not so great about this comic? Practically, nothing. The writing is super tight. The pacing is high and super smooth, the dialog is super natural, and Strazcynksi’s last-page cliffhanger is super intriguing.
How about the art? ACO and Lorenzo’s art is super clean, and powerful when needed, and Marcelo Maiolo’s colors are excellent. The minor down point is ACO’s excessive use of close-ups, which makes the visuals feel small and confined. There are a few wide shots and at least one splash page, but the majority of close-ups create an unintended claustrophobic feeling.
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 begin with The Raven mid-flight. As the narrative flips back and forth to her travel and a recent conversation with her boyfriend, we learn The Raven intends to steal a massive truckload of gold heading out of a Middle Eastern country. If successful, The Raven can retire for good and settle down with her boyfriend in safe, quiet, domestic life.
The Raven’s theft is successful, but the gold she stole did not belong to the man she stole it from. It belonged to the Crown Prince, and now the Crown Prince demands permanent action from the US government or he will pull all diplomatic support for the US, risking the lives of thousands of American soldiers.
The President makes the only decision he can, and he calls upon the Council of Justice to carry it out. We conclude the issue with moral debates, compartmentalized actions, and an evolution.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
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THE MADNESS #1 is a hard-hitting, dramatic, super-smart story of revenge in a world filled with superheroes. Straczynski lays out a pitch-perfect revenge story, dripping with drama and character motivation for one of the best new character debuts in some time.
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