Billionaire Island issue 1.
Written by Mark Russell.
Art by Steve Pugh.
Colours by Chris Chuckry.
Letters by Rob Steen.
Published by Ahoy Comics.
£3.99 (ComiXology) - Full Colour - 32 pages.
The Story - ‘Welcome to Billionaire Island, where anything goes...if you can afford it. But the island's ultra-rich inhabitants are about to learn that their ill-gotten gains come at a very high price.’
The Review - Well this was a great antidote to the current climate of very serious news reporting and social distancing. A comic that is both a funny ride but with a cheeky satirical edge.
The cover to me is a weak Banksy rip and needs to be less of a faux political statement and more representative of the creepy and murderous humour comic that we see inside. (In fact a reverse image search brings back at least a couple of Banksy results). It does however show a little hint at the slyly performed digs at consumerism and worshipping of ‘The Rich List’ that is going on today. A sentiment that seems somehow to hit home with more impact with what is happening in the current lockdown situation we find ourselves in. One rule for the rich and one for the not so fucking rich. Who knew?
Who could central villain/asshole Rick Canto be based on I ask myself. There’s a little of the Mark Zuckerberg visually and a little more of the Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson about the smug island owning/show off/bellend stuff. Canto is a villain for our time that also simultaneously reflects Lex Luther and a touch of the Loki in his never giving a fuck/people are playthings attitude. ‘Freedom Unlimited’ - yeah that stinks of a shallow marketing meeting.
I’ve been a fan of Mark Russell since enjoying Exit Stag Left: The Snagglepuss Chronicles. He has an idiosyncratic style that allows for action, pathos and humour all at once. There are a couple of page turn (guided view swipe) moments that genuinely surprised and interested me and I shall be keeping an eye out for the next issue - whenever that may be! (No slight on Ahoy intended here - but with the current situation who of us can be sure?)
The art has something very different about it and echoes something somewhere between Mad Magazine and a Horror comic. It is at once underground and satirical but also clearly a four colour monthly. Steve Pugh really pushes a couple of the more caricature/cartoony elements of his style to great results. There are some excellently performed moments of techie goodness and a lot of visual character traits that are very of the moment.
This is a book that I would recommend. Stop watching the press conferences on the news and download this instead.
It’s worthy of note that whilst the page count is shown as 32 pages the actual story is 22 pages and the rest is a text piece, a poem and a preview of another Ahoy Comic.
You can find more about Ahoy Comics here https://www.comicsahoy.com/ and follow them on Twitter @AhoyComicMags
Many thanks for reading.
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