Bleed Ink---The Umbrella Academy

Howdy Ninjas,

This is my first review of a comic book. I'm going to call it Bleed Ink. It's emo enough to be cool and refreshing comics enough to make sense. I like how the very second blog would be a comic book review.

Today is a review of Gerard Way (writer) and Gabriel Ba's (illustrations) 'The Umbrella Academy' which recently wrapped up it's 6 part mini-series. Most of you may know Gerard as lead singer for My Chemical Romance, but he actually doesn't suck as a writer. I know *gasp*

But hear me out. Most critics agree with me. The comic is good. It's the now usual dysfunctional family with superpowers. A sadistic unfeeling father, Sir Reginald Hargreeves, adopts 8 children born under the same ominous circumstances across the planet and raises them callously to be the saviors of the Earth....from some unknown danger. Too bad that the real and ever present danger is the lack of love from a father to his children. We see the effects of a lifetime of trying to be loved by a distant parent. Hargreeves dies and the residual baggage spills onto the page.

Did I mention Hargreeves is an alien?
Did I mention that the Umbrella Academy of "adult-children" have to save the world?
Did I mention there is a talking simian?

Yes. This comic has strong influences from 'The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen' in it's use of the occult and coincidental supernatural. Unlike 'Hellboy' which it also reminds me of it doesn't become too convoluted or just plain illogical with it's conspiracies.(I'm the only kid who doesn't like Hellboy, probably). Also, the plot twists happen within the realm of logic but aren't totally predictable. At some points a main character or two is just blasted or jumped upon and it is surprising but not an impossible plot device.

The emotional content drives the heart of the story. I'm very pleasantly surprised by Gerad's consistency and ease of read. He doesn't bore the reader and keeps the pace, page turning. The characters speak like real people and react with real feeling.

The art work by Ba is great and fits the story perfectly. The cover art draws you in and the comic art makes you stay. (If you like this comic look out for Gabriel Ba's and his brother Fabio Moon's blog here:: http://fabioandgabriel.blogspot.com/

also they have the graphic novel De: Tales...it's the shit)

The art is at times clear and at others disjointed and grime, which I guess reflects the universe the characters inhabit.

For a cracked out family, Armageddon, ambiguity about love and if humanity is worth saving, get this series.

Be Aware: Repeated unsettling violence (but not gory) sexual tension, and philosophically unsettling ideas about humanity.


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