“Yumi: 00-EX #1” Review – Chaos Shaken, Not Stirred

Imagine, will you, if one took “Kingsmen: The Secret Service” and James Bond and threw it in a shaker. However, this particular cocktail comes laced with chaos and potential romance from the point-of-view of a young spy. It’s also made entirely upside down. That’s what you get with Doug Wagner’s “Yumi: 00-EX #1” and it’s a truly insane ride.

Writer: Doug Wagner
Artist: Hoyt Silva
Colorist: Kevin Lennertz
Letterer: Frank Cvetkovic

The Writing

Eddie: Yumi has fallen in love with Richard… who is an MI-6 agent… a double “O” James Bond-type spy and Richard has disappeared. Is he on an operation? Has he been captured? Has he just… ghosted Yumi? That’s what Yumi is going to find out and she’s way more than just a girl looking for her boyfriend. She has her own… very particular set of skills, skills that will make her a nightmare for people like… well… other spies.

“Yumi: 00-EX” from Image Comics, written by Doug Wagner, illustrated by Hoyt Silva, colored by Kevin Lennertz, and lettered by Frank Cvetkovic may be a bit different for those fans who have come to know Wagner’s writing through the Plastic-verse. It has his distinct sense of humor, but he is channeling something different for the reader this time. He’s tapping into modern popular culture to give us something we possibly haven’t seen before. In Yumi, we may have our first Gen Z secret agent.

Eda: First thing’s first, let’s take a look at the beating heart of this story: Yumi herself. She’s everything I could want in a fun main character, being cocky, and perhaps a bit unhinged. She’s who everything builds around, with the main plot being her finding her missing MI6 boyfriend. That’s, you know, after she leaves it in flames and steals a car she programs to sound like Cardi B.

Speaking of the Cardi B car, Yumi has arguably the most interesting personality I’ve seen in a comic in a while! On top of the madness, we get a look at who she is through her playlist. As a music lover, this is something I absolutely love, since the music you listen to can say so much about you. Not only that, but the music here frames the story structure, beginning with “Crown” by Billie Eilish and ending with “Problem” by Natalia Kills. When it comes to the story itself, I can’t help but feel like this is all building up to a big reveal. The not knowing of what that might be has me so excited for what’s coming!

The Art

Eddie: Her attitude, perspective, and cultural references on top of her skill set create a character that’s tailor made to wreak havoc in a world that would seem to be very set in its ways and not ready for real disruption. That character sets the stage for the visual style with “Yumi: 00-EX” that will appeal to manga readers as well as your standard comic reader. It takes inspiration from popular meme culture, manga and anime as well as Ian Fleming. Hoyt Silva, Kevin Lennertz, and Frank Cvetkovic are more than up for that challenge. They all combine to create something original that’s in kindred spirit with stories like “Scott Pilgrim vs. The World”.

The combined work of Silva, Lennertz, and Cvetkovic ground us in a spy story that we think we’ve seen a million times, but also adds a fun layer. While watching Yumi in action, we can almost hear the sound effects of video games and martial arts films at the same time.

Eda: Being new to the art and colors of Hoyt Silva and Kevin Lennertz, I went into this completely not knowing what to expect. Coming out of the book, all I have to say is “wow”! First, the art of Silva matches the vibes of this story perfectly, being extremely varied, explosive and fun. Second, it’s detailed to perfectly encapsulate the real world while looking cartoony and chibi when we’re in Yumi’s head.

When it comes to Lennertz’s colors, they lend a vibrancy that acts as a perfect juxtaposition to the usual intensity of spy thrillers. This combined with the insane letter work of Cvetkovic gives this book so much distinct character and personality, landing perfectly in line with Yumi herself.

Final Thoughts

Eddie: A strong first issue sets the stage for the rest of the story. Readers are in for some laughs and well executed action with “Yumi: 00EX”. A strong creative team is at work here and “Yumi” has a lot of fun dynamics at play. If you were a fan of last year’s “We’re Taking Everyone Down With Us”, give “Yumi: 00EX” a try.

Eda: “Yumi: 00EX” feels like a Zillennial’s day out, if that day included chaotic spy antics with a dash of romance. Wagner gives the genre a rocket fueled injection full of amazing antics and cherry bomb romance. This with the combined efforts of Silva, Lennertz and Cvetkovic make for a truly amazing read.

Eddie’s Grade: 9/10
Eda’s Grade: 10/10
Overall Grade: 9.5/10

If you read “Yumi: 00EX” and decide you want to match Yumi’s energy, grab a bag of Bones Coffee and use the redemption code at checkout! My personal favorite right now is Apple Cider Donut, a medium roast that tastes exactly like it sounds.

For Eddie’s video review, keep an eye on the Nerd Initiative YouTube channel as well as WretchedHiveComics on Instagram!

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Comments

Are you a fan of Doug Wagner? What are your thoughts on “Yumi: 00EX”? Let’s discuss in the comments below!