Skullkickers #19 / Uncanny Skullkickers #1

Written by Jim Zubkavich
Art by Edwin Huang and Kevin Raganit

It's been a little while since we've seen the Skullkickers, so I was pretty happy to be able to pick up a new issue this week.  For this new arc, called 'Eighty Eyes on an Evil Island', writer Jim Zubkavich is having a little fun with the comics industry.  So far, each issue of the arc that's been solicited so far has been listed as a new #1 issue of a title which has simply changed an adjective or two in order to justify a 'relaunch'.  This issue was solicited as Uncanny Skullkickers #1, but it was also possible to pick it up with the cover, title, and numbering shown to the right.  I hope that this little stunt gets Zubkavich the notice he's looking for, because Skullkickers is an excellent series that more people need to be paying attention to.

As this arc opens, Rex and Kusia wake up on a remote beach, having been washed ashore after their sea-faring misadventures of the last story arc.  They have no idea where they are, and are left with a meager amount of supplies.  It's not long before the elfin Kusia has hunted up some meat, while Rex has found himself a small patch of shade in which to enjoy some rum.  Later, there is an attack by vicious horned turtles, and some jungle-slogging, which leads to an unfortunate discovery.

Running along the bottom of each page is another strip, which keeps us current with the Dwarf who is usually the star of this book.  It's one of the more exciting comics sequences I've ever read.

Skullkickers is a lot of fun, and it looks like Zubkavich is having a good time switching up the formula a little by rearranging the players.  Next month, I guess things in this book are going to be a little more canny, but also a lot more savage...

Skullkickers #16

Written by Jim Zubkavich
Art by Edwin Huang, Kevin Raganit, and Misty Coats

As is to be expected, the new issue of Skullkickers is a lot of fun.  The baby Thool demon has taken over the minds of most of the women on the Mermaid's Bottom, leaving only the Captain, the female Elf, and our two heroes to try to fight it, free the women who are attacking them, and keep the ship from capsizing in the sudden storm that has imperilled them all.

This is an action-filled issue, so there's not a lot of space for character development or further explanation as to Baldy's history and his arrival in this world.  I presume we'll get back to that stuff eventually, but for at least one issue, I'm perfectly happy to wallow in the madcap action and amusing sound effects. 

In all, a very successful issue of Skullkickers.