Publisher: SLG Publishing
Writer: Matthew Ritter
Artist: Adam Elbahtimy

I’ve made no secret of my love for seeing something new and exciting when it comes to small press releases.  Well, Nova Phase – from Matthew Ritter and Adam Elbahtimy – provides exactly that, offering up an exciting sci-fi western with fantastic 8-bit artwork.  Yeah, you heard me, I said 8-bit artwork.  Honestly, I’m surprised more people haven’t thought of this.  The entire comic is laid out like a cut-scene from a NES or Master System game, and – to be blunt – looks absolutely amazing.

There’s something about the relative simplicity of the visual approach that lends itself perfectly to a swashbuckling action comic like this, and Ritter’s writing plays into the style wonderfully, providing an undeniably straightforward but utterly enjoyable storyline with some witty, snappy dialogue along the way.  Elbahtimy’s artwork is fantastic as he displays some great visual touches that show a strong affection for the classic video game genre, and a firm understanding of storytelling with some terrific panel layouts.

The story follows Veronica Darkwater (a perfect name for a video game heroine if ever I’ve heard one), a wannabe bounty hunter cursed by an aversion to violence and an unfortunately trusting nature.  Over the first two issues of this series we get to know her background, see her in action, and get a pretty firm grasp of her character and motivations.  She’s a strong, instantly likeable protagonist, which is obviously a major plus-point when jumping into a new story.

The supporting characters are also terrific, and – without trying to hammer this point home too hard – could all easily be lifted from any number of classic video games.  From the wise-cracking group of misfit bandits to the scowling, sneering bad guy Colonel Clopas, the character types are all familiar enough to not need prolonged introductions, while still managing to be individual enough to stand out without appearing clichéd.

The story whips along at a brisk pace without giving us much time to pause for breath, and features drama, humour, action and – most importantly – an all-encompassing sense of fun.  It may be something about my age or the fact that I grew up on video games with cut scenes exactly like this comic, but the whole thing just connected with me practically from the first couple of pages.  I just flat-out ‘got it’, and I applaud both Ritter and Elbahtimy for tapping into the desire to read an 8-bit comic book that… well… I didn’t even know I had until I picked this book up.

If you’re looking for gritty realism or dark, noir-style storytelling, then Nova Phase probably isn’t for you.  But if you ever picked up a controller and enjoyed a video game in the 80’s or 90’s, then this is definitely a comic you should be taking a look at.  Fun, exciting, and gloriously ‘retro’ without ever seeming like a parody, this a comic that truly deserves your attention.

All your awesome are belong to Nova Phase.

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You can pick up the first issue of Nova Phase from Comixology for FREE (yes, you heard me), with the second issue also available for the bargain price of $0.99 (or 69p in real money).

You can also follow the creators on their Blog, or on Facebook

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The writer of this piece was: Craig Neilson (aka Ceej)
Article Archive: Ceej Says