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Creative Team: Kurt Busiek & Fabian Nicieza (Writers), Stephen Mooney (Artist), Triona Tree Farrell (Color Artist), Richard Starkings & Comicraft’s Tyler Smith (Lettering & Design), Kel Symons (Editor).
FREE AGENTS Published by Image Comics
FIRST THOUGHTS
There’s something special about the first issue that the creative team and the reader get to do just one time in the lifespan of a series – start with something new. For a creative team of writers and artists this is the first time they will write the names of these characters on the page, to see their characters appear on a panel, have characters interact on page, and provide the first glimpse of who these characters are and what this new series is about.
For a reader, it is all of those things that are built up with curiosity as they open the cover to that new series, and begin looking at the pages and reading. FREE AGENTS is a new series, but by seasoned writers and artists who know what it takes to draw in readers.
Readers are given a set of new characters, but characters who are under the impression their old lives are behind them and they too are starting new, but learn that their past isn’t something they can just walk away from and what do they do when confronted with the decision of what to do next.
THE STORY
When the names Kurt Busiek and Fabian Nicieza are on the credits page of a comic book series, there is a sense of comfort and assurance that a reader is going to get something new, fresh, and a hint of nostalgia. Both of these writers have written thousands of comic book issues and have created stories for a wide range of genres and that should provide some curiosity to a reader as to what they’ll do next with a new creator-owned series. FREE AGENTS #1 is packed with action, mystery, humor, and character introductions and character development. Readers are given 40 pages of comic book and Busiek and Nicieza use every bit of that real estate on the page to tell you a rich story that ends with a cliffhanger that causes the characters on the page pause, and the reader a reason to come back for more.
The amount of information that’s on the page may seem like too much to some readers, and that’s understandable. At first read, there is a lot to take in, but comics aren’t meant to be read at a breakneck speed. Busiek and Nicieza would probably appreciate the reader sitting down with a drink, in a comfortable chair, and taking the time to absorb this beginning to their new series. They have spent a lot of time creating and developing this story, you should take the time to read and look at it.
THE ART
By the time the last page is revealed and the cliffhanger is out there in front of the reader, it is clear that Stephen Mooney, Triona Tree Farrell, and Tyler Smith came to the series ready to put the work in to make this series their own. This issue has a lot of big sci-fi set pieces that are very well crafted. The character designs are all very unique and hold steady throughout the issue. Readers know who these characters are just by seeing them on the page, as they learn their names along the way. For a majority of this issue, Mooney’s linework has a thin and lighter lineweight allowing for Farrell’s colors the space they need to flourish. There are some infrequent times where that lineweight is heavier and the colors seem to not stand out as much and makes the panels seem muddy. It is a sign of a new artistic team learning to work together and see what works and what doesn’t. The positives in what’s on the page far outshine the negatives, and makes looking at future issues exciting to see how they grow as a team.
Tyler Smith’s lettering deserves a lot of credit for the work he put into this issue. As stated before, this is a 40 page issue that is packed with dialogue and action and Smith seems to be leveling up every page. The mixture of lettering techniques and styles is necessary and part of the storytelling, and Smith does a great job with it.
FINAL THOUGHTS: 7
FREE AGENTS #1 is a solid launching point for this new series. Busiek and Nicieza lay out an intriguing sci-fi, action/adventure series for readers, and Mooney, Farrell, and Smith put it on the page that deserves attention. All first issues are a time for creative teams and readers to meet each other for the first time on neutral ground, and this issue is a great issue for them to meet for the 100th time, or the first.
