"Murder Falcon #1" Comic Review

I know you're not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but I think you can with Murder Falcon. You have an idea of what you're getting into based on that title alone and you know it's going to be awesome. Sure, it could have just been a catchy name, but this comic delivers in spades.

It helps that Daniel Warren Johnson is behind it. He is an incredibly talented artist and Murder Falcon is just the latest showcase for his work. No one draws monsters like he does. They are unlike anything I've ever seen before, plus they're filled with an amazing amount of detail, highlighting each deformed crevice in their skin and every abnormally large tooth. It's a monster lover's dream.

Murder Falcon follows Jake, who summons the title character to fight monsters that are attacking the planet. The warrior is powered by metal and Jake delivers that with some choice guitar riffs. Again, this would be enough under normal circumstances to create a fun and awesome-looking comic. After giving you a taste of what the action is like, Johnson takes it back to show how we got here and it is a tremendous journey.

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When the flashback begins, Jake looks washed up and depressed. You might think that he's just a metal-loving slob that couldn't make it in the music world, so he's slumming it. In this case, you'd be right not to judge a book by its cover because there's a lot more to Jake than meets the eye. He had a promising career as a musician, but threw it all away. The reason for this is shown in an exquisite sequence that nearly had me in tears. Johnson beautifully illustrates a man's life that takes you on an emotional journey of heartbreak and sadness that hits right in the gut.

I'm going to take a moment to remind you that this happens in a comic that also stars an eight-foot-tall bird man with a robotic arm that fights monsters with the strength of metal music. You get unparalleled action balanced with incredible character development in one spot.

The design for Murder Falcon is like something out of a child's sketchbook. It's the combination of every awesome action figure you ever had as a kid. He's got big robot arm, a bandanna that flows out behind him in waves, pants loaded with pockets and pouches, and Converse high-tops. Oh, and his belt buckle says “MF” on it, which can mean more than just his actual name.

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When Murder Falcon jumps into action, you will be glued to the page. Colorist Mike Spicer amplifies the excitement in these scenes with a bright, bold palette. This is especially true of the monsters and their insides, which are splattered all over the place. The purples and reds of these creatures highlight their otherworldly nature.

Johnson weaves the sound effects into the artwork itself, making them part of the action. For example, when Jake is playing, the music wraps around him. Letterer Rus Wooton handles the dialogue. I love how he uses a smaller font for the quieter moments, which contrasts with the epic intensity of the title character's speech.

Murder Falcon is pure fun from beginning to end. It had me with the premise alone and then Johnson takes it to new heights with his amazing artwork and powerful storytelling. This comic has everything I could ever want from a story, from giant monsters and a kick-ass hero to compelling character development and good old-fashioned metal.