Comics should be fun.
Don’t get me wrong, I love me a good deconstruction, and comics and social commentary go hand in hand like peanut butter and jelly, but every now and then you want something a little lighter, a little more exciting, and a lot more fun.
This week I’ll be looking at Arcade Kings from artist/writer/creator Dylan Burnett. It’s an action-packed homage to classic arcade fighters, coming of age ‘80s action films, and has a Scott Pilgrim vibe that has just been lacking from so many western comics.
So let’s crack into this this one together and see where it goes!
Here’s the blurb:
The new limited comic book series by creator/writer/artist Dylan Burnett (Cosmic Ghost Rider, Ant-Man), colorists Walter Baiamonte and Sara Antonellini, and letterer AndWorld Design. The debut issue introduces a world of fists, family, and video game infused fighting that will leave you speechless.
Joe, a mysterious new face in Infinity City, has suddenly become the hottest new player at the Round House arcade. Anyone can challenge him, but no one can win. Joe’s secret past is about to catch up to him when his most formidable challenge yet rolls into town, forcing Joe to combo his powers with a joystick, his fists… and his fighting family legacy. Arcade Kings #1 will arrive in comic book shops May 17, 2023.
Arcade Kings is a trip and a half. Full of action, excitement, and so much color it makes the DCEU weep ugly, angry tears.
Dylan Burnett has shown how well he can capture action and movement in his previous works, but here, where he is free to craft a world exactly the way he wants it, we get to see the artist unleashed.
The colors, the movement, the character designs all come together to create a masterpiece of the comic genre that is, as I said at the start, one of the most fun reads I have had with a western comic in a while.
Fans of series like Scott Pilgrim will definitely find a lot to love in Arcade Kings, with its over the top campy madness and its video game focus, but if you think this is just a Pilgrim clone you are going to be pleasantly surprised. Burnett’s characters feel fresh and exciting, with their own unique designs and backstories, and so while it might have the comfortable feel of a classic, this work is its own unique and beautiful story.
Arcade Kings comes out next month, so there is still time to ask your LCS to order you a copy. Make sure you call them today and add it to your pull. Trust me, if you’re looking for a fun new read, this is the book for you.
