Title: Billy the Pyro #1-3 Writer: Brad Burdick Artist: Fabian Cobos Colorist: Eddy Swan Letterer: Marshall Dillon Publisher: Alterna Comics Release Date: 09/03 Reviewed by: David Melton
Billy the Pyro is the story of a young man who is finding it hard to fit in. His mother passed away giving birth to him and his father became a drunk that couldn’t forgive Billy for the loss of his wife. He is forced to see a psychiatrist weekly, take prescription pills, and try to avoid his father at all costs. If his father doesn’t lay a hand on him first, someone in the seedy neighborhood he lives in just might. Full of pickpockets and thugs, just walking two blocks you’re able to witness multiple atrocities. Now imagine being a teenage kid trying to grow up with all of this around you in your life. Billy is quick-tempered and doesn’t trust anyone, which is a dangerous mix when he finds out his anger activates a superpower inside of him that allows him to light things on fire through his hands.
There is a government operated company, GAPRI that looks out for people like Billy. Brings them into their fold and tries to help them control their powers. Billy’s mother worked for them. That’s how he got to be here. Escaping from the wrath of his father, Billy goes to GAPRI to try to learn about his past and ends up making a new friend with a similar background. Can he learn to control his temper, and his powers, before he’s called upon to defend himself? Billy the Pyro is not only about learning to deal with superpowers, it’s also about learning to mature.
Brad Burdick’s writing is spot-on. Billy has a terrible personality, but you as the reader understand why. You can’t fault him after you learn everything he’s been through. Saying he has trust issues would be an understatement and just finding out about GAPRI and learning that their tests may have killed his mother, being comfortable with them is something that may be far off, but he has nowhere else to turn. It will be interesting to see the character grow into his new found abilities as I will be rooting for him the whole way through.
Fabian Cobos’ artwork definitely takes on a cartoon look but it doesn’t come off as childish. Heavily detailed panels that are just as great to look at when it’s a conversation panel as when it’s an action-packed scene. The action sequences could have come out muddled, but Fabian reigns them in and is aided by the coloring of Eddy Swan. Swans colors keep every page looking crisp and vibrant and help add a serious tone to the cartoon style of the artwork.
A lot of fun to read, Billy the Pyro is a new story that adds to the comic book world by giving it a new character that has some flaws, but shows the strength to power through them. You can get issues 1 & 2 here and issue #3 will be released tomorrow. You can also keep tabs on when the next issue is going to be released. If you’re looking for a new comic to enjoy, make it this one.
Billy the Pyro #1-3 "If you're looking for a new comic to enjoy, make it this one" CC: @Brad_Burdick @ALTERNAComics Title: Billy the Pyro #1-3 Writer: Brad Burdick Artist: Fabian Cobos Colorist: Eddy Swan Letterer: Marshall Dillon…
