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Cross Bronx Volume 1
"The Cross Bronx" seamlessly mixes police procedure and the supernatural in a story that follows Detective Rafael Aponte as he investigates a mysterious gang slaying that quickly brings him face to face with an unearthly beauty. Taking out her revenge on the city, she challenges Aponte's faith in the law as it clashes with his faith in God - or lack thereof.
128 pages, Paperback
First published April 18, 2007
1 person is currently reading
45 people want to read
About the author
Michael Avon Oeming
824 books64 followersMichael Avon Oeming is an American comic book creator, both as an artist and writer.
His 1998 comic book Bulletproof Monk was made into a film of the same name.
The previous mentioned collaborations are The Mice Templar from Image Comics, which he draws and co-authors with Bryan J.L. Glass,[1] and Powers from Icon Comics which he draws, and sometimes co-authors, with Brian Bendis. His creator-owned projects include Rapture, on which he collaborated with his wife, Taki Soma,[2] and The Victories, both for Dark Horse Comics.
As of 2010, he is employed as a staff member of Valve Corporation, working on Left 4 Dead, Team Fortress 2 and Portal 2 webcomics.
His 1998 comic book Bulletproof Monk was made into a film of the same name.
The previous mentioned collaborations are The Mice Templar from Image Comics, which he draws and co-authors with Bryan J.L. Glass,[1] and Powers from Icon Comics which he draws, and sometimes co-authors, with Brian Bendis. His creator-owned projects include Rapture, on which he collaborated with his wife, Taki Soma,[2] and The Victories, both for Dark Horse Comics.
As of 2010, he is employed as a staff member of Valve Corporation, working on Left 4 Dead, Team Fortress 2 and Portal 2 webcomics.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 30, 2011
the Cross Bronx
Written by Michael Avon Oeming and Ivan Brandon
Art by Michael Avon Oeming
Some books are best read in the dark.
This is one of em.
Three pages in you see that this book is gonna be violent and gruesome.
The detectives survey the crime scene from the doorway.
In the foreground, closest to your eye, is a head with the jaw blasted off by a shotgun, skin pocked with pellets.
-The head belongs to either that big-titted girl in the tight red dress who was blowing joint smoke in the face of some passed out guy, or the girl who was giving a blowjob in the corner.
A cross dangles from a chain around her grey lifeless neck.
Michael Avon Oeming's art is so simplistic that the detail and attention he gives to splattered brains makes the violent scenes that much more jarring.
The center of this comic is a well told detective story, that comes alive inside New York City. The dynamic between Detective Rafael Aponte and his wife connects genuinely. His failures and sincere desire to do the right thing and make the world a better place builds the foundation of our sympathy for him. Maybe if this were an ordinary case, he'd have a chance, but this one is beyond the control of human beings, something otherworldly is involved.
Rife with patron saints, incense, and holy crosses, Cross Bronx builds a religious atmosphere akin to the Exorcist. Upon first sight of Mrs. Ortiz, her red bloodshot eyes, candles and soft light shading her face as she opens the door, wrinkled lips whispering to the detective..."enter", a little shiver went down my spine.
Through the rest of the book, I could feel the little shiver, a flutter, somewhere deep, like the moths that appear throughout the book, to signal unholy retribution.
The only problem with Cross Bronx is that it was a limited Series. Though the story is so well told, and paced, that it certainly doesn't feel too short. I guess I need to read Oeming's more famous work- "Powers". I'd never heard of Ivan Brandon before, definitely one to check out.
I don't know what kind of extras were included in the Collected Edition, as I read the individual comics of this series, but the alternate covers by Esad Ribic (Issue 1), Ashley Wood (Issue 3), and David Mack (Issue 4), as well as the pin-ups in issue 4 by Francesco Francavilla, and Eric Nguyen are fantastic additions to the mythos of this excellent comic book.
To any reader who likes well told crime stories, Cross Bronx should be purchased immediately. The original comics are $1.10 a piece at mycomicshop.com, the trade paperback is $7.20. I highly recommend this book.
Written by Michael Avon Oeming and Ivan Brandon
Art by Michael Avon Oeming
Some books are best read in the dark.
This is one of em.
Three pages in you see that this book is gonna be violent and gruesome.
The detectives survey the crime scene from the doorway.
In the foreground, closest to your eye, is a head with the jaw blasted off by a shotgun, skin pocked with pellets.
-The head belongs to either that big-titted girl in the tight red dress who was blowing joint smoke in the face of some passed out guy, or the girl who was giving a blowjob in the corner.
A cross dangles from a chain around her grey lifeless neck.
Michael Avon Oeming's art is so simplistic that the detail and attention he gives to splattered brains makes the violent scenes that much more jarring.
The center of this comic is a well told detective story, that comes alive inside New York City. The dynamic between Detective Rafael Aponte and his wife connects genuinely. His failures and sincere desire to do the right thing and make the world a better place builds the foundation of our sympathy for him. Maybe if this were an ordinary case, he'd have a chance, but this one is beyond the control of human beings, something otherworldly is involved.
Rife with patron saints, incense, and holy crosses, Cross Bronx builds a religious atmosphere akin to the Exorcist. Upon first sight of Mrs. Ortiz, her red bloodshot eyes, candles and soft light shading her face as she opens the door, wrinkled lips whispering to the detective..."enter", a little shiver went down my spine.
Through the rest of the book, I could feel the little shiver, a flutter, somewhere deep, like the moths that appear throughout the book, to signal unholy retribution.
The only problem with Cross Bronx is that it was a limited Series. Though the story is so well told, and paced, that it certainly doesn't feel too short. I guess I need to read Oeming's more famous work- "Powers". I'd never heard of Ivan Brandon before, definitely one to check out.
I don't know what kind of extras were included in the Collected Edition, as I read the individual comics of this series, but the alternate covers by Esad Ribic (Issue 1), Ashley Wood (Issue 3), and David Mack (Issue 4), as well as the pin-ups in issue 4 by Francesco Francavilla, and Eric Nguyen are fantastic additions to the mythos of this excellent comic book.
To any reader who likes well told crime stories, Cross Bronx should be purchased immediately. The original comics are $1.10 a piece at mycomicshop.com, the trade paperback is $7.20. I highly recommend this book.
July 5, 2022
Solid art, and a good mix of supernatural and modern detective procedural story-wise.
February 27, 2009
Good art, great urban setting, some convincing characters. It's kind of like if commissioner Gordon got his own book, but it was set in something closer to the real NYC than Gotham.
August 6, 2015
Short! Left me wanting more so I guess that's good. Would like to see more story lines with Rafael Aponte and the Cross Bronx.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews