“So what kind of stuff do you like?”
“Weird indie comics mainly.”
“I think you’ll like this!”
And that’s how I met Ted Sikora at the Cincinnati Comic Expo.
One of my favorite things about attending cons is getting a chance to talk to artists and authors about their comics. These folks are not only the backbone of the indie comics scene, they are also some of the most passionate creators you’ll ever meet. They’ve dedicated every ounce of their time, money, and passion into creating something that is so dear to them, and that passion and enthusiasm literally leaps off of every page. Don’t get me wrong, not every indie book being pushed at a con is a hidden gem. There were more than a few that I saw and quickly walked past because I could tell right away that they would not be my cup of tea, but occasionally you find a real treasure hiding in the lot, and that’s where we get to today’s recommendation, Bloom from Hero Tomorrow Comics!
Here’s the blurb: The year is 1969. Ramsey is an aspiring comic book artist who is trying to find inspiration for his femme fatale. When he meets wild dancer, Regina, at a street fair he invites her into the woods for a character photoshoot where she begins to break on through to the other side. Witness the psycho-delic origin of the most powerful character in the Hero Tomorrow Comics universe. A mind-bending 4 issue journey to reshape your reality!
Hero Tomorrow is a small indie publisher that has really shown some impressive growth in the last few years. From their website: Hero Tomorrow Comics is an independent creator-owned comic book publisher and studio. We are distributed internationally by Diamond Comics, and all our stories take place within a shared universe… We wear a huge influence of Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, and John Romita (the greatest rock band of all time) on our sleeves. Think of Hero Tomorrow Comics as that classic 70s bronze age re-imagined for the New Roaring ’20s.
As a small time indie reviewer, I had heard of their comics in the past, but never took the time to check them out (I know, story of my life. The things I pass on for now end up being the things I love later. I have a stack of manga as high as myself sitting next to me to attest to that fact). So when I saw the Hero Tomorrow booth at the Cincinnati Expo I knew it was something I needed to check out.
Ted Sikora, is a Cleveland/Akron based comic book writer and filmmaker as well as the president of Hero Tomorrow Comics, and the creator/writer/letterer of Tap Dance Killer, Punchline & the Vaude-Villains, Bloom, and creator/co-writer/colorist/letterer of Apama The Undiscovered Animal. He was also running the booth and was more than happy to take the time to talk to me about his company, their comics, and the fantastic team of writers and creatives they have working together on this initiative.
And I have to say, I was pretty intrigued. I ended up buying the latest mini series from them, Bloom, as well as a few other issues that Ted generously tossed in the pile. Which, of course, takes us to this weeks review!
Bloom is a very impressive read. The story follows Ramsey, a talented young artist who, like many before him, is struggling to get his vision of the perfect comic book down onto the page. At the center of his block is his inability to fully capture the female villain at the heart of his story. In fact, she doesn’t even have a name, just a rough design. When he happens upon Regina dancing at a local festival, he is instantly enthralled, and manages to convince her to go into the woods with him for a photo shoot. Things quickly start to turn, however, as Ramsey paints her body with the tattoos he saw in the dream that inspired his comic, and before he knows it, Regina starts to slip away, and something older, and darker, begins to take her place.
This comic works on a number of different levels. For one thing, Bloom is the origin story of one of the primary antagonists from the main line of books from Hero Tomorrow publishing. As such, you would think that it is a bad place to start, but honestly I never felt like I was getting cheated or left behind with this. It’s a fully contained story and works as a great entry point to this line.
Bloom also is very effective with its use of horror and tension, and I genuinely had moments where I felt nervous and uneasy while reading it, but in a good way! Ted is a very talented storyteller, and I very much enjoyed his approach to this book. Regina is both seductive and repulsive, and has a mystery to her that makes Ramsey’s continued fascination with her feel believable and real. It’s a good sign when a book begins to bring in more and more elements of the fantastic and you never find yourself stopping to challenge that.
And, of course, there is the art. I’m going to be real honest here, I have read a lot of indie comics from much bigger studios that put out pretty terrible art. I won’t name names, but there are more than a few books that I was really excited to read, only to open them up and see something that I could have drawn, and my art makes Tom King’s look like Michelangelo.
Thankfully, not only is the work in this book solid, it’s down right wonderful. Butch Mapa does a fantastic job with some pretty wild designs, and manages to not only catch the beauty and horror of the shifting natural environment in this book, he also does a wonderful job capturing the emotions, and motions, of the characters. I was genuinely impressed with this art, especially coming from a smaller publisher, and feel confident that you’ll enjoy the art as much as I did.
An interesting premise, a fun new connected universe, and a creative team driven by the love of comics, Hero Tomorrow is clearly a publisher that has some big things in its future. Check out their website and see if they have something for you. I’m recommending Bloom, and can’t wait to check out what else they have!
Alright, that’s it for me this week. Off to try to find the bottom of that manga pile! Until next week, Stay Safe!
