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On the Stump #1
Publisher: Image
Writer: Chuck Brown
Artist: Prenzy
Colors: Prenzy
Letters: Clayton Cowles
Cover: Prenzy

You want to run for office? You want that bill passed? You want to keep that seat in the House? Then you better be prepared to bring all that energy to Washington D.C. and defeat your opponent on The Stump and prepare to fight for your prize! No speeches to decide who wins here just two individuals who shoot the fair one till the other drops. However, we quickly see that things may not be so fair and are just as bloody and dangerous outside of the ring as well.

The issue opens up boasting a terrific design with a fight card that introduces our first two combatants, Senators Jack Hammer and “Sweet Smell” Shaw. And what seems like a regular brawl for the passing of a bill quickly becomes something else with the introduction of FBI Agent Anna Bell. It’s from her that we find out that the fight was supposed to have a different outcome and there’s someone in the background with more sinister motivations. This is where writer, Chuck Brown really begins to take off with this issue. With superb world building and some great pacing he merges the world of professional fighting with political intrigue and corruption quite well. His dialogue is on point and each character carries some weight and regardless of how much time they get in the issue Chuck manages to give them their moment to shine.

The visuals from Prenzy sync perfectly with the narrative and it’s nice to see when the artwork is moving just as much of the story as the written word. This is most noticeable in the action sequences which are ridiculously brutal and fun to watch over a series of panels. They display the necessary action and power but there’s one that just stands out as it reminds me of something out of Fist of the North Star! As good as the lettering from Cowles was in this issue it was slightly disappointing that there wasn’t a sound effect on that page. There’s also those moments where Prenzy gives you just as much to see during the smaller moments in the story that stand side by side with the action.

On the Stump has an exciting first issue that does it’s job of pulling you in with not only a strong narrative and great art but smart social commentary that hits like a missile drop kick from the top rope! I didn’t know what to expect with this title but On the Stump has me hooked and it’s definitely worth a shot when you head out to pick up your new comics!

Infinite Speech
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