Exclusive BOOM! preview: Curb Stomp #1 brings the pain with a badass girl gang
Writer Ryan Ferrier made a big impression last year with his creator-owned digital series D4VE (one of The A.V. Club’s Best Comics of 2014, available in print from IDW next week), and BOOM! Studios has snatched up his talent for a number of projects. In addition to taking over the Sons Of Anarchy ongoing series, Ferrier is writing Curb Stomp, an original four-issue miniseries about a gang of women called The Fever that serves as the primary source of law enforcement in the desolate town of Old Beach. As the blunt title and bright cover by Tula Lotay suggest, the first issue of this new series is a violent and visually arresting affair, quickly building a tense narrative that jeopardizes The Fever’s way of life.
This preview of next week’s Curb Stomp #1 introduces the cast in ways that embody the spirit of the characters: Machete Betty is lounging in a pool that she’s broken into, Violet Volt is protecting her convenience store from a would-be robber, Daisy Chain is babysitting Betty’s daughter, Derby Girl is buying drugs, and Bloody Mary is leaving the house after a day of caring for her sick mother. In just a few pages, Ferrier spotlights the wide range of personalities that make up this group, establishing that these women are more than just ass-kicking plainclothes vigilantes. But they’re also ass-kicking plainclothes vigilantes, and that causes considerable trouble when Machete Betty makes a big mistake after letting her impulses get the best of her.
Ferrier is joined by Devaki Neogi and colorist Neil Lalonde on art duties, and they deliver bright, expressive visuals that create an intriguing contrast with the gritty story. Neogi’s character designs have a lot of individual style, and her thick line work blends beautifully with Lalonde’s high-impact color palette. With a title like Curb Stomp, this book should hit hard, and this creative team delivers a first issue that punches, kicks, and smacks the reader in the face with a baseball bat of awesome.