Hey guys! Welcome to B’s Views and Reviews, the podcast that promotes faith-based, family friendly comics and the creators that make them, brought to you by Geek Devotions. I’m Branson, and today we’re going to be looking at the first issue of a new Golden age hero, the Red Rooster
Here’s the plot from the issue description: “For Centuries, the venerable mantle of the Red Rooster passed from generation-to-generation, battling the most ancient and pernicious evils. Frank Cooper found himself donning the cape and cowl at the dawn of mass media. Motion pictures and radio plays catapulted the once secretive Order of the Dawn into the spotlight of celebrity, potentially to catastrophic effect — a risk we all navigate in the era of social media.”
Red Rooster is an amalgam of a bunch of different heroes. Being set in the 1930s gives it a Rocketeer Vibe. The relationship between Red Rooster and his sidekick, Strongboy, looks a lot like alternate versions of Captain America and Bucky. The Rooster Motto sounds a lot like the Green Lantern Oath. The fact that the only real “super” power is that Strongboy is strong, along with the propaganda of movie serials and the cynicism of superheroes who make them, gives it a Watchmen feel. Towards the end of the book, the gathering of villains on the train feels very much like the Legion of Doom. While this is a new story, it feels familiar in a lot of ways that make me happy.
The artwork of this book looks like actual artwork , not the sanitized feel of a digital product. It doesn’t have the photorealism that Alex Ross has, but it definitely has a feel of real material. It seems as though there are boards of actual artwork somewhere that I could purchase of this book and not just files on a computer. It’s refreshing and harkens back to the Golden Age of comics that the story invokes.
Speaking of story, it uses the plot device where we’re plopped in the middle of a forlorn moment with no idea of what just happened, then flashed back to a certain time later. It gives the book a sad beginning. It does, however, give us a real sense of danger. Without knowing that Red Rooster is going to face a dark time, the “soft” jabs that Midnight gives him along with the fact that he knocks out a bad guy with one punch would make it seem like he is a Superman of sorts, invulnerable and morally incorruptible. Everyone “knows” he’s gonna win, so why fret when the bad guys show up? Strongboy is also set to become a prodigal son. He’s a crime fighting hero on the screen, but in real life he clearly has issues that either need to be dealt with or will be exploited by the villains.
As far as content, alcohol references, and fighting that involves some broken teeth and busted hands pushes the age of the intended audience up a little. There are references to “pinups,” but they are tasteful comments, and unless your kids know what pinups are, the reference will go over their heads. The character’s costumes are indicative of the superhero genre, but they are still very modest compared to what’s on the shelves today. Red Rooster is rated T for Teen by Allegiance Arts. I’d put it closer to a 10+ rating, but as always, that decision is ultimately up to the parents.
Red Rooster is available in Walmart stores, online at walmart.com and at http://www.allegiancearts.com
Until next time, Stay devoted!! Peace and Love!!