The Fist: Philadelphia's Classic Vigilante
By: Matthew Berner
Senior Staff Writer for CosPhilly Communications
This is a first for me. I was sent a copy of this comic to review. How cool is that!?! I've hit the big-time baby and now I'm just going to coast on my fame…. No? Four reviews doesn't make a career? Ugh, fine! Let's do this.
Senior Staff Writer for CosPhilly Communications
This is a first for me. I was sent a copy of this comic to review. How cool is that!?! I've hit the big-time baby and now I'm just going to coast on my fame…. No? Four reviews doesn't make a career? Ugh, fine! Let's do this.
“The Fist” #1, created and written by 2017 Philly
Geek Award Nominee for Best Comic Creator, Brandon Bitros and illustrated by Fernando
Jimenez, is an indie comic published by Blackstone Comics. The very
first thing I want to bring attention to is the great use of color in
this book. It is almost entirely black and white with splashes of color
throughout that enhances what is great about the art.
Personally, I love black and white comics. They require the artist
to fully flesh out their world without the support of coloring and
shading to hide any defects and it can produce some career defining
art. The subtle color details act as accents to
draw the eye to where the artist desires and is used to
great effect.
So, I do want to make this clear. This is NOT going to be
all sunshine and daisies. As much as I LOVE getting free comics (HINT HINT
anyone looking to get guaranteed a review) it doesn’t mean I’m just going to
give an A+ to anything sent my way. I have principles you know! This was a very
engaging first issue. I had immediate impressions of the recipe for
this series: part crime noir, part period piece, with a strong sense of Frank
Miller’s Sin City and Daredevil runs, and a hint of the modern
Daredevil Netflix series. It manages to feel like a throwback to a classic 80’s
hard boiled drama with modern comic trappings that allow for a very easy
reading experience.
The 1918 Philadelphia setting really stood out as
something that is never really showcased in media. 1918 tends to be overlooked
in general, as it’s the end of WW1 and just
before the Prohibition era. Couple that with the Philly
location over more cities like NYC or LA and it’s definitely a less sexy
backdrop but damn does it feel perfect for the story. We meet our protagonist,
Riley Reece, and we know he is a man built from his surroundings. He has vices
and flaws, has a troubled past, and can barely make enough to keep a roof over
his family’s head. He isn’t a handsome playboy or suave rouge type, he’s just a
guy. Not dashing, not ugly, he’s average, ordinary, a dude who you couldn’t
pick out of a crowd if you were paid to. Which is perfect, since he might
also be a masked vigilante. I don’t want to go into much more since this is an
indie comic and deserves your dollar, but this is worth the read for the costume
alone. Instant classic. It has that Daredevil, from the streets feel,
crossed with Iron Fists form and function. It is also shows clear
details from his unique history and background. I actually said “cool” out
loud, in my office, all alone, when I got to the reveal page.

Before I give my final verdict, I want to point out that I hate any review that tries to sum up everything in the final paragraph with an “overall…” or an “in general…”. I find it a hacky, 8th grade level meeting of summation that is well below the standards of someone who is writing professionally… Overall (bite me, I wrote myself into a corner), this is a very good creative team that has produced a VERY good first issue to a series I am genuinely excited to continue. I believe they will improve as they gain their footing in the issues to come and will carve out their own little section of the indie market. I read on average 40 to 50 comics a week and regularly drop what I don't feel is worth following anymore. It doesn't even have to be bad, I must drop titles that are simply okay and I WANT to know more about “The Fist”. “The Fist” is available for purchase: https://www.comixology.com/The-Fist-1/digital-comic/521638

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