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FBP: Federal Bureau of Physics #1
DPF: Departamento de Polícia da Física - Ed. 1: Mudança de Paradigma
Nosso universo sempre foi governado por constantes previsíveis. Por leis que foram gravadas em pedra no começo dos tempos. Por forças tão fundamentais quanto a gravidade que nos mantêm no chão.
Essas eram as regras, e nós pensávamos que elas nunca mudariam. Estávamos errados.
Tornados quânticos. Falhas localizadas de gravidade. Dimensões-bolhas. Vórtices inescapáveis. A tessitura do Universo está enfraquecendo, e os bravos homens e mulheres que arriscam a vida para repará-la trabalham para o Departamento de Polícia da Física.
Mas isso é muito mais do que um trabalho para o agente Adam Hardy. Ele sempre foi fascinado pelo pai que nunca conheceu, um físico pioneiro que fez uma incrível descoberta e pagou por ela com a própria vida.
Adam, Jay (seu parceiro) e Cícero (seu supervisor) conhecem e dominam as novas regras. Mas a conspiração que estão prestes a descobrir destruirá todas as regras uma vez mais.
E, se não tiverem cuidado, os destruirá também. Descubra um admirável e bizarro mundo novo em FBP – DEPARTAMENTO DE POLÍCIA DA FÍSICA – o ponto de partida para o sucesso de ficção-científica de Simon Oliver (THE EXTERMINATORS) e Robbi Rodriguez (Radioactive Spider-Gwen).
Este encadernado reúne as edições 1 a 7 da série FBP – FEDERAL BUREAU OF PHYSICS e é o primeiro da série.
Essas eram as regras, e nós pensávamos que elas nunca mudariam. Estávamos errados.
Tornados quânticos. Falhas localizadas de gravidade. Dimensões-bolhas. Vórtices inescapáveis. A tessitura do Universo está enfraquecendo, e os bravos homens e mulheres que arriscam a vida para repará-la trabalham para o Departamento de Polícia da Física.
Mas isso é muito mais do que um trabalho para o agente Adam Hardy. Ele sempre foi fascinado pelo pai que nunca conheceu, um físico pioneiro que fez uma incrível descoberta e pagou por ela com a própria vida.
Adam, Jay (seu parceiro) e Cícero (seu supervisor) conhecem e dominam as novas regras. Mas a conspiração que estão prestes a descobrir destruirá todas as regras uma vez mais.
E, se não tiverem cuidado, os destruirá também. Descubra um admirável e bizarro mundo novo em FBP – DEPARTAMENTO DE POLÍCIA DA FÍSICA – o ponto de partida para o sucesso de ficção-científica de Simon Oliver (THE EXTERMINATORS) e Robbi Rodriguez (Radioactive Spider-Gwen).
Este encadernado reúne as edições 1 a 7 da série FBP – FEDERAL BUREAU OF PHYSICS e é o primeiro da série.
164 pages, Paperback
First published February 25, 2014
43 people are currently reading
1030 people want to read
About the author
Simon Oliver
207 books26 followersSimon Oliver was hatched in South London in 1969. Since that date he has consistently strived for mediocrity in a number of fields of employment, from cooking at the legendary Hacienda Club of Manchester in the late 1980's, scuba diving instructor in the planet's more tropical climes, to a career as a camera assistant in Hollywood. With such a spotty and heterogeneous employment record is seemed only fitting that the comic book would industry welcome him with open arms in 2005 for his writing debut in THE EXTERMINATORS.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 186 reviews
June 19, 2014
Anything that can remind me of the glory days of The X-Files is a good thing. FBP does exactly that, without being in any sense a copy. It's the concept that does it: federal agents investigating the strange. That's roughly where the two part ways, though. The biggest difference is that the weird is well known. In this case, the laws of physics are breaking down, in a sense, becoming entirely unreliable. One day, gravity may stop working, but only in one small place, and it's the FBP's job to essentially give gravity a jump start. Right up my alley. I like that the threats are both plausible enough under the circumstances and so totally unlike anything that could ever be seen in the real world. I like the hints of something bigger and deeper than what we know, that didn't take over the main story at any point. I think this will be a series I'll be paying some attention to over the next few volumes.
April 22, 2015
“The impossible is always possible…” is an oft-repeated phrase throughout this story - does that include Vertigo publishing a good comic? Ah, I kid, Vertigo! … but not really.
Vertigo have had a helluva dry spell since Scalped and Northlanders both ended. Even the DC wunderkind Scott Snyder failed to liven up the label with his mediocre book, The Wake. So it continues with FBP, a humungously boring story that doesn’t know what it’s supposed to be.
It sells itself as this wacky tale of science gone belly-up. The laws of physics have been broken: up is down, black is white, Adam Sandler is funny, you get the idea – everything is wrong. Enter the Federal Bureau of Physics, a new branch of government that’s there to act as a kind of investigative body into these disturbances as well as a fourth emergency service.
What the book actually is, is an extremely tedious character-driven story with the weird science as background only. Meet Adam Hardy, the protagonist of the book whose personality can be described as: he wears a baseball cap, has one expression, and is standoffish. Those are the qualities of a background character, not the freakin’ LEAD!!
He joined the Bureau after his dad “died” in an experiment but they never found his body - which means he was probably sucked into another dimension and he’ll turn up later in the series. I’m not going to read any further than this book but I’d bet the house that that happens. And that’s his story: daddy issues, surly, boring.
The physics gone mad thing is presented in such a mundane fashion when it should really fill the reader with wonder. There are people floating around, people jumping off buildings and landing safely on the ground; there’s so much potential for a world where people can temporarily become superheroes like The Matrix - yet I never felt the wonder of any of it. That’s partly due to Adam wandering into a scene and “fixing” it by making things safe and pedestrian again.
How does someone become a FBP agent anyway and what makes them special? Adam basically rocks up at a scene, puts on goggles, gets put in a winch, and “solders” a patch of air with a special soldering gun. Well that sounds like something anyone could do, like a construction worker’s job - what’s so specialised about what Adam does? We don’t see him doing anything besides this so no clue. But that really is how drearily these ruptures are presented: rifts in the air that are soldered back up. Ho hum, no excitement here, folks, move along.
It’s never explained just why physics has broken down which I was fine with – just write a good story, I’ll suspend my disbelief. But no, it’s about the private sector taking over this branch so it can sell physics insurance to the masses. It’s evil businessmen again! Oh my god, this comic beggars belief just how utterly tedious it is!
The pacing of the story is so poor. We go from slow present (organisational politics, underfunded department) to unconnected flashback to tedious science wiki info dump (there is far too much exposition in this comic) back to flashback to present to another wiki info dump (it’s also all technobabble I didn’t retain) to a crap set piece and then more shots of boring Adam standing wearing a baseball cap glaring at the middle distance. He’s such a forgettable protagonist and yet we’re supposed to care about his quest for his dad – nope!
Flashbacks are meant to help explain the present, not the past - they’re a method of enhancing the story going forward. Simon Oliver hasn’t grasped this so he throws in random flashbacks that add nothing to the story and actually bog down the stagnant pacing still further. The book has no pulse.
Robbi Rodriguez’s art is Bill Sienkiewicz-lite with a dash of Ralph Steadman. If you’re not familiar with those names, it means the art is very sketchy, exaggerated and swirly though I wouldn’t class Rodriguez as highly as those two artists. I know why the art, including the loud colouring, was like that - to reflect the physics-gone-mad idea - but it totally failed to grab my imagination.
FBP is a mess. It stars a one-dimensional, archetypical main character you couldn’t care less about and a cast who somehow manage to come off as even more bland. The story and the way it’s written is completely unengaging. Horrible, I was begging for mercy by the end!
Vertigo have had a helluva dry spell since Scalped and Northlanders both ended. Even the DC wunderkind Scott Snyder failed to liven up the label with his mediocre book, The Wake. So it continues with FBP, a humungously boring story that doesn’t know what it’s supposed to be.
It sells itself as this wacky tale of science gone belly-up. The laws of physics have been broken: up is down, black is white, Adam Sandler is funny, you get the idea – everything is wrong. Enter the Federal Bureau of Physics, a new branch of government that’s there to act as a kind of investigative body into these disturbances as well as a fourth emergency service.
What the book actually is, is an extremely tedious character-driven story with the weird science as background only. Meet Adam Hardy, the protagonist of the book whose personality can be described as: he wears a baseball cap, has one expression, and is standoffish. Those are the qualities of a background character, not the freakin’ LEAD!!
He joined the Bureau after his dad “died” in an experiment but they never found his body - which means he was probably sucked into another dimension and he’ll turn up later in the series. I’m not going to read any further than this book but I’d bet the house that that happens. And that’s his story: daddy issues, surly, boring.
The physics gone mad thing is presented in such a mundane fashion when it should really fill the reader with wonder. There are people floating around, people jumping off buildings and landing safely on the ground; there’s so much potential for a world where people can temporarily become superheroes like The Matrix - yet I never felt the wonder of any of it. That’s partly due to Adam wandering into a scene and “fixing” it by making things safe and pedestrian again.
How does someone become a FBP agent anyway and what makes them special? Adam basically rocks up at a scene, puts on goggles, gets put in a winch, and “solders” a patch of air with a special soldering gun. Well that sounds like something anyone could do, like a construction worker’s job - what’s so specialised about what Adam does? We don’t see him doing anything besides this so no clue. But that really is how drearily these ruptures are presented: rifts in the air that are soldered back up. Ho hum, no excitement here, folks, move along.
It’s never explained just why physics has broken down which I was fine with – just write a good story, I’ll suspend my disbelief. But no, it’s about the private sector taking over this branch so it can sell physics insurance to the masses. It’s evil businessmen again! Oh my god, this comic beggars belief just how utterly tedious it is!
The pacing of the story is so poor. We go from slow present (organisational politics, underfunded department) to unconnected flashback to tedious science wiki info dump (there is far too much exposition in this comic) back to flashback to present to another wiki info dump (it’s also all technobabble I didn’t retain) to a crap set piece and then more shots of boring Adam standing wearing a baseball cap glaring at the middle distance. He’s such a forgettable protagonist and yet we’re supposed to care about his quest for his dad – nope!
Flashbacks are meant to help explain the present, not the past - they’re a method of enhancing the story going forward. Simon Oliver hasn’t grasped this so he throws in random flashbacks that add nothing to the story and actually bog down the stagnant pacing still further. The book has no pulse.
Robbi Rodriguez’s art is Bill Sienkiewicz-lite with a dash of Ralph Steadman. If you’re not familiar with those names, it means the art is very sketchy, exaggerated and swirly though I wouldn’t class Rodriguez as highly as those two artists. I know why the art, including the loud colouring, was like that - to reflect the physics-gone-mad idea - but it totally failed to grab my imagination.
FBP is a mess. It stars a one-dimensional, archetypical main character you couldn’t care less about and a cast who somehow manage to come off as even more bland. The story and the way it’s written is completely unengaging. Horrible, I was begging for mercy by the end!
April 4, 2018
One of my fave sci-fi comics. Recommended for those who enjoy WTF moments, reality-within-reality sci-fi, and cranky reluctant heroes.
In the near future, you can call 911 for police, fire, ambulance... or physics emergencies, since the "laws" of reality intermittently break. Adam Hardy is an agent with the Bureau, responding to these emergency calls. Or not, or possibly two hours late, since he's kind of a slacker. Things are about to get serious, though, and Hardy's right in the middle of it. Will reality continue warping until it collapses, or can someone stop it?
FBP is complete in four volumes' worth of investigations, bizarre scientific inventions, secrets, lies, growing friendships, and heroic sacrifices. The end was... felt like the only way, and I was satisfied even though my heart had wanted something different. Rodriguez and Renzi together created a look that I wouldn't call attractive, really, but instead dynamic, expressive, and totally appropriate to a story about the warping of reality. The switch to different artists later in the series wasn't wholly successful for me, but I was invested enough in the characters to keep reading and I was glad I did.
Diversity/content notes: (1) Hardy is Pakistani-American, and partway through the first volume Hardy gets a new partner, Agent Rosa Reyes, who is Latina. The third main character, Cicero, is a Jewish man. (2) Hardy does make a couple of jokes mentioning Asperger's that are consistent with his kinda jerky character (because due to Reyes's backstory, she does seem to have some autism spectrum characteristics). It doesn't come across as author-endorsed, but it's there. (3) Co-creator and artist Robbi Rodriguez is Mexican-American.
In the near future, you can call 911 for police, fire, ambulance... or physics emergencies, since the "laws" of reality intermittently break. Adam Hardy is an agent with the Bureau, responding to these emergency calls. Or not, or possibly two hours late, since he's kind of a slacker. Things are about to get serious, though, and Hardy's right in the middle of it. Will reality continue warping until it collapses, or can someone stop it?
FBP is complete in four volumes' worth of investigations, bizarre scientific inventions, secrets, lies, growing friendships, and heroic sacrifices. The end was... felt like the only way, and I was satisfied even though my heart had wanted something different. Rodriguez and Renzi together created a look that I wouldn't call attractive, really, but instead dynamic, expressive, and totally appropriate to a story about the warping of reality. The switch to different artists later in the series wasn't wholly successful for me, but I was invested enough in the characters to keep reading and I was glad I did.
Diversity/content notes: (1) Hardy is Pakistani-American, and partway through the first volume Hardy gets a new partner, Agent Rosa Reyes, who is Latina. The third main character, Cicero, is a Jewish man. (2) Hardy does make a couple of jokes mentioning Asperger's that are consistent with his kinda jerky character (because due to Reyes's backstory, she does seem to have some autism spectrum characteristics). It doesn't come across as author-endorsed, but it's there. (3) Co-creator and artist Robbi Rodriguez is Mexican-American.
December 13, 2024
Really fresh comic, I like the story a lot and I want to know more right now.
April 28, 2014
Although I'm not one for straight sci-fi, this collection of comics about a world where the laws of physics no longer work (sometimes) is an interesting concept that lends itself well to the illustrated page.
The writing is very good, although we're still not sure what is causing this sudden collapse of physics, but the art by Robbi Rodriguez is amazing. Rico Renzi supplies vivid colors, and Nathan Fox's covers stand out as arresting and provocative.
Looking forward to the next volumes.
The writing is very good, although we're still not sure what is causing this sudden collapse of physics, but the art by Robbi Rodriguez is amazing. Rico Renzi supplies vivid colors, and Nathan Fox's covers stand out as arresting and provocative.
Looking forward to the next volumes.
September 27, 2015
I love physics and I'm a total science geek so this was nice welcome change to read.
Good artwork, interesting story and it's different. I'll be reading vol 2.
Good artwork, interesting story and it's different. I'll be reading vol 2.
August 17, 2015
This is a graphic novel I picked up from the library and I am so glad I did because it means I spent nothing on it. This book is not for me in any way shape or form. It was dull, boring and certainly not brilliantly drawn or thought out. The story is surrounding a good idea, but it becomes convoluted and messy quickly meaning that it's not only hard to follow what's happening but it's also quickly uninteresting.
This is a story about the FBP which is the 'Federal Bureau of Physics'. In this world we see that the science of the world has been breaking all the rules humankind thought they knew and since there have been so many issues and problems with it all, there's been a need for an FBP to be created in order to try and fix all the problems.
Whilst I liked the idea I felt that the art style, bright on some pages, dark on others, neutral on some and vibrant clashes on others really didn't feel even remotely cohesive. I constantly felt that the artwork was too rushed and frantic or too dull and neutral. I never felt that the balance was right or that the story was caught by the art style well enough to make me want to keep going.
There's a lot of mindless violence and gore within this that didn't feel genuine or needed. I felt as though it had been shoe-horned in for no reason.
I didn't like that there were some moments which felt seriously dull and boring and other moments which were highly scientific and theoretical, making it both too mind-numbing for it's obviousness and aloofness in various parts of the story.
On the whole this was just bad. Bad art, bad story and an annoying read all around unfortunately. I doubt I will be picking up anything more by this author or artist team and I'd not recommend it, there's a lot of much better graphic work out there both for art and story.
This is a story about the FBP which is the 'Federal Bureau of Physics'. In this world we see that the science of the world has been breaking all the rules humankind thought they knew and since there have been so many issues and problems with it all, there's been a need for an FBP to be created in order to try and fix all the problems.
Whilst I liked the idea I felt that the art style, bright on some pages, dark on others, neutral on some and vibrant clashes on others really didn't feel even remotely cohesive. I constantly felt that the artwork was too rushed and frantic or too dull and neutral. I never felt that the balance was right or that the story was caught by the art style well enough to make me want to keep going.
There's a lot of mindless violence and gore within this that didn't feel genuine or needed. I felt as though it had been shoe-horned in for no reason.
I didn't like that there were some moments which felt seriously dull and boring and other moments which were highly scientific and theoretical, making it both too mind-numbing for it's obviousness and aloofness in various parts of the story.
On the whole this was just bad. Bad art, bad story and an annoying read all around unfortunately. I doubt I will be picking up anything more by this author or artist team and I'd not recommend it, there's a lot of much better graphic work out there both for art and story.
May 15, 2014
Who knew physics could be this much fun? This series kind of has a slightly more serious Chew vibe and tons of fun sci-fi elements too.
July 25, 2018
This graphic novel is complete in 4 volumes and this review is for the entire series.
In the near future 911 responders ask if your call is concerning police, fire, ambulance or physics. Yes, physics! In this world the laws of physics have started to fail and anything is possible. For example: "Wormholes in your kitchen. Gravity failures at school. Quantum tornadoes tearing through the midwest." The FBP (Federal Bureau of Physics) agent at the center of this story is Adam Hardy, who does the absolute minimum he needs to do to get by, so it's not very reassuring that he's the point guy when physics fails. There are people trying to live their lives, people who are trying to help, and people with nefarious intentions. Will Earth and humanity survive?
I loved that this story dives deep into Quantum physics and does little hand holding along the way. The ethical and moral and scientific quandaries are all fun romps and I enjoyed the diverse cast of characters. There is something surreal about keeping the story lines straight in your head, we are dealing with a multi-verse scenario after all, and there are some clever plot lines in this zany tale.
I did not however love the art. It's bright and does try to show the action, but the style changes over the volumes, and I for one was not a fan. There are moments of head scratching and moments of brilliance in this one, and I would only recommend it for readers willing to go along for a somewhat confusing ride, and trust that the strings (ha!) will all make sense in the end. Also if you are going to read this, get your hands on all volumes at once. I had to wait several weeks before I could get the final installment and my enjoyment suffered for it.
In the near future 911 responders ask if your call is concerning police, fire, ambulance or physics. Yes, physics! In this world the laws of physics have started to fail and anything is possible. For example: "Wormholes in your kitchen. Gravity failures at school. Quantum tornadoes tearing through the midwest." The FBP (Federal Bureau of Physics) agent at the center of this story is Adam Hardy, who does the absolute minimum he needs to do to get by, so it's not very reassuring that he's the point guy when physics fails. There are people trying to live their lives, people who are trying to help, and people with nefarious intentions. Will Earth and humanity survive?
I loved that this story dives deep into Quantum physics and does little hand holding along the way. The ethical and moral and scientific quandaries are all fun romps and I enjoyed the diverse cast of characters. There is something surreal about keeping the story lines straight in your head, we are dealing with a multi-verse scenario after all, and there are some clever plot lines in this zany tale.
I did not however love the art. It's bright and does try to show the action, but the style changes over the volumes, and I for one was not a fan. There are moments of head scratching and moments of brilliance in this one, and I would only recommend it for readers willing to go along for a somewhat confusing ride, and trust that the strings (ha!) will all make sense in the end. Also if you are going to read this, get your hands on all volumes at once. I had to wait several weeks before I could get the final installment and my enjoyment suffered for it.
January 20, 2025
🅡🅔🅥🅘🅔🅦
FBP: Federal Bureau of Physics: The Paradigm Shift
2013
Graphic Novel
Rating: 4/5
FBP: Federal Bureau of Physics Vol. 1: The Paradigm Shift by Simon Oliver is a thrilling, mind-bending ride through a world where the laws of physics are not just theories, they are controlled, manipulated, and regulated by a mysterious government agency. This graphic novel blends science fiction, suspense, and humour, drawing readers into a reality where chaotic anomalies in the laws of nature are an everyday occurrence.
The premise is intriguing, the Federal Bureau of Physics is tasked with maintaining the stability of reality itself, handling incidents where the physical world falls into disarray. Oliver’s writing is sharp and engaging, with a perfect balance of action and intellectual intrigue. The dialogue is witty and fast-paced, adding layers to the world-building without bogging the story down in excessive exposition. The concept is explored in a way that’s accessible even to readers who might not be familiar with theoretical physics, making the narrative both exciting and thought-provoking.
What makes this story stand out is its blend of complex ideas with a fast-paced, character-driven plot. It’s a series that demands attention but rewards the reader with layers of depth, and unexpected twists. It’s not your average scifi or fantasy novel, and it doesn’t expect the reader to be endlessly lost.
If you’re looking for a fresh take on the sci-fi police procedural, FBP: Federal Bureau of Physics is a must-read. The first volume sets up a fascinating world with endless possibilities, and I can’t wait to see where the story goes from here. Fans of both science fiction and action-packed comics will find this book to be an exciting and cerebral read.
#hitme#2022#comics#comicbooks#comicbookcommunity#comicbooklover#booklover#bookworm#comicbookreview#comicbookcollection#comicbookcollector#comicbookcollecting#dupreewenttothemovies#books#bookrecommendations#readingtime#readingaddict#readingcommunity#readinglist#readingbooks#readingisfun#alwaysreading#ilovereading#lovereading#readreadread#readersgonnaread#simonoliver#book#vertigocomics#graphicnovel
FBP: Federal Bureau of Physics: The Paradigm Shift
2013
Graphic Novel
Rating: 4/5
FBP: Federal Bureau of Physics Vol. 1: The Paradigm Shift by Simon Oliver is a thrilling, mind-bending ride through a world where the laws of physics are not just theories, they are controlled, manipulated, and regulated by a mysterious government agency. This graphic novel blends science fiction, suspense, and humour, drawing readers into a reality where chaotic anomalies in the laws of nature are an everyday occurrence.
The premise is intriguing, the Federal Bureau of Physics is tasked with maintaining the stability of reality itself, handling incidents where the physical world falls into disarray. Oliver’s writing is sharp and engaging, with a perfect balance of action and intellectual intrigue. The dialogue is witty and fast-paced, adding layers to the world-building without bogging the story down in excessive exposition. The concept is explored in a way that’s accessible even to readers who might not be familiar with theoretical physics, making the narrative both exciting and thought-provoking.
What makes this story stand out is its blend of complex ideas with a fast-paced, character-driven plot. It’s a series that demands attention but rewards the reader with layers of depth, and unexpected twists. It’s not your average scifi or fantasy novel, and it doesn’t expect the reader to be endlessly lost.
If you’re looking for a fresh take on the sci-fi police procedural, FBP: Federal Bureau of Physics is a must-read. The first volume sets up a fascinating world with endless possibilities, and I can’t wait to see where the story goes from here. Fans of both science fiction and action-packed comics will find this book to be an exciting and cerebral read.
#hitme#2022#comics#comicbooks#comicbookcommunity#comicbooklover#booklover#bookworm#comicbookreview#comicbookcollection#comicbookcollector#comicbookcollecting#dupreewenttothemovies#books#bookrecommendations#readingtime#readingaddict#readingcommunity#readinglist#readingbooks#readingisfun#alwaysreading#ilovereading#lovereading#readreadread#readersgonnaread#simonoliver#book#vertigocomics#graphicnovel
February 24, 2014
3.5 stars total
(Although I received this book for review my review is still 100% honest.)
I thought the story for this comic sounded really interesting. Well it was interesting in more ways than one. Well of course this comic is compiled of the first seven in the series I believe. I thought it was amazing that it was in full color! I'm mostly used to reading comics that are black and white so I was shocked by this.
I found this comic to be very unique compared to others I read before. Mostly because there was no words at all through out it. You had to read each of the stories or adventures just by reading the pictures. I actually could understand what was going on in the story without having to really read. I enjoyed this concept a lot.
Although one downfall to this concept was the fact that you can get confused a little. I believe there was flashbacks through out each adventure. Even though I' m not sure I think there was. Another downfall to this is your not to sure who the main character is. You could diffidently recognize the same group through out scenes. Which of course is the main cast of characters, I just found it hard to recognize the main person.
I would have to say that I did really enjoy this comic. If your looking for something fast and easy to more or else read then this would be it. The artwork in this alone is worth owning plus the adventures that come with it are pretty unforgettable.
(Although I received this book for review my review is still 100% honest.)
I thought the story for this comic sounded really interesting. Well it was interesting in more ways than one. Well of course this comic is compiled of the first seven in the series I believe. I thought it was amazing that it was in full color! I'm mostly used to reading comics that are black and white so I was shocked by this.
I found this comic to be very unique compared to others I read before. Mostly because there was no words at all through out it. You had to read each of the stories or adventures just by reading the pictures. I actually could understand what was going on in the story without having to really read. I enjoyed this concept a lot.
Although one downfall to this concept was the fact that you can get confused a little. I believe there was flashbacks through out each adventure. Even though I' m not sure I think there was. Another downfall to this is your not to sure who the main character is. You could diffidently recognize the same group through out scenes. Which of course is the main cast of characters, I just found it hard to recognize the main person.
I would have to say that I did really enjoy this comic. If your looking for something fast and easy to more or else read then this would be it. The artwork in this alone is worth owning plus the adventures that come with it are pretty unforgettable.
May 30, 2015
It's a world where you called 911 and your nature of emergency is Physics. Not fire, ambulance or police, but Physics. Localized gravity failures, bubble dimension and time dilations are occurring. The fabric of the universe is weakening and everyone have their own agenda. Money can be made even when the universe is collapsing. What do you believe in?
It's a colorful ride, reminding Wally Wood era coloring. It's a ride, as I mentioned already.
It's a colorful ride, reminding Wally Wood era coloring. It's a ride, as I mentioned already.
August 12, 2015
Well, the concept reeled me in but I just couldn't care enough about the main character to be fine with the story being character driven. Not in a world where the laws of physics just might stop holding true in any part of the earth at any time. That shit is too good to waste on a main character this boring. If only Agent Reyes was the main character...
Moreover, the art is a sloppy mess that tried to compliment the wacky world but for the most part, failed to.
Moreover, the art is a sloppy mess that tried to compliment the wacky world but for the most part, failed to.
May 11, 2017
FBP features a near future in which the laws of physics have gone completely out the window and all kinds of strange events involving quantum tornadoes, wormholes and alternate dimensions start threatening the people of Earth. In steps the Federal Bureau of Physics (FBP) which must set the world back to rights and find out why these events are happening. Ghost...err physics busters to the rescue!
FBP has an interesting concept that I found intriguing along with flawed characters that further piqued my interest. The art is delightfully trippy and fits the mind bending tone of the story. A little more science than I'd really prefer in my sci fi and I can't say I understood most of it but enjoyable nonetheless.
Full series review here
FBP has an interesting concept that I found intriguing along with flawed characters that further piqued my interest. The art is delightfully trippy and fits the mind bending tone of the story. A little more science than I'd really prefer in my sci fi and I can't say I understood most of it but enjoyable nonetheless.
Full series review here
August 23, 2021
3.5 Stars
This isn't my usual read as it's technically "hard sci-fi", but in this case I can get past that and get to the story underneath.
What we think we know about physics is turning out to be wrong, and a government group has been created to deal with the weird anomalies that keep popping up all over the world: areas losing gravity, pocket dimensions popping up, etc. Then we find out there's a deeper plot with an evil corporation and, of course, MONEY being involved.
This seems like the kind of story I'll either really like or really hate by the time it ends, but for now I'm going to stick with it.
This isn't my usual read as it's technically "hard sci-fi", but in this case I can get past that and get to the story underneath.
What we think we know about physics is turning out to be wrong, and a government group has been created to deal with the weird anomalies that keep popping up all over the world: areas losing gravity, pocket dimensions popping up, etc. Then we find out there's a deeper plot with an evil corporation and, of course, MONEY being involved.
This seems like the kind of story I'll either really like or really hate by the time it ends, but for now I'm going to stick with it.
December 31, 2017
I’d like to see where this story is headed. Will definitely give the second trade a go.
March 4, 2014
NOTE: THIS IS A FIRST-READS ADVANCE COPY WON FROM THE PUBLISHER
This is the first collected volume for the Federal Bureau of Physics series, titled “The Paradigm Shift,”and includes issues 1-7. The relatively quick and dirty, sans spoilers: Special Agent Adam Hardy is a member of the titular Bureau (FBP) and works to fix happenings and upheavals in a world where “the impossible’s always possible.” In this world, dialing 911 will prompt the question whether your emergency is “fire, ambulance, police, or physics?” This is a world where gravity fields shift and shut down a local high school whose students are flying off the grounds, where bubble universes trap people just taking an elevator to work, and where engineers can build machines to create wormholes to allow them access to anywhere in the known universe. Agent Hardy works as part of a team in which he handles more practical applications; he’s the guy holding the welder that closes the torn gravity field, or shot into the bubble universe as part of the rescue mission. He is aided in these missions by a field partner (who changes over the course of this volume) and a Bureau brain, Agent Cicero, one of those stereotypic nerds who can foresee the unpredictable and uses his brain to rescue or assist Adam, the brawn. Adam is practically born to the Bureau: his father was one of the pioneering scientists who studied some of the first physics events in our world, and was one of its first casualties as a quantum tornado chaser.
I entered this contest because in reading the description, it sounded akin to J.J. Abrams’ “Fringe,” which I was a fan of from beginning to end. To that end, I was not disappointed. I’m not someone who’s heavy into physics (I barely know what is meant by String Theory). But this series succeeds because while the science is integral to the story’s plot development, it doesn’t bog down in explanations or rely on the audience’s knowledge of physics to tell a good story. This is essentially the story of Adam (whose name is certainly no accident) and his colleagues, and they happen to work in a government agency that handles physics. These first issues introduce the Bureau and Adam, provide us with enough back-story to better understand his motivations but still keep him mysterious, and give us situations where readers can’t anticipate the outcome but are invested enough in the characters to care about how it all unravels.
The art was reminiscent of the dreamy line work I’ve seen in Duggan and Noto’s “The Infinite Horizon” and Johnson and Mutti’s “Right State.” The colors hewed to a warm palette except in the introductory front plates for each individual issue, where electric pinks and blues took over to good and jarring effect.
Overall, I enjoyed the stories and definitely want to know what happens next in the series. Ready for volume 2!
This is the first collected volume for the Federal Bureau of Physics series, titled “The Paradigm Shift,”and includes issues 1-7. The relatively quick and dirty, sans spoilers: Special Agent Adam Hardy is a member of the titular Bureau (FBP) and works to fix happenings and upheavals in a world where “the impossible’s always possible.” In this world, dialing 911 will prompt the question whether your emergency is “fire, ambulance, police, or physics?” This is a world where gravity fields shift and shut down a local high school whose students are flying off the grounds, where bubble universes trap people just taking an elevator to work, and where engineers can build machines to create wormholes to allow them access to anywhere in the known universe. Agent Hardy works as part of a team in which he handles more practical applications; he’s the guy holding the welder that closes the torn gravity field, or shot into the bubble universe as part of the rescue mission. He is aided in these missions by a field partner (who changes over the course of this volume) and a Bureau brain, Agent Cicero, one of those stereotypic nerds who can foresee the unpredictable and uses his brain to rescue or assist Adam, the brawn. Adam is practically born to the Bureau: his father was one of the pioneering scientists who studied some of the first physics events in our world, and was one of its first casualties as a quantum tornado chaser.
I entered this contest because in reading the description, it sounded akin to J.J. Abrams’ “Fringe,” which I was a fan of from beginning to end. To that end, I was not disappointed. I’m not someone who’s heavy into physics (I barely know what is meant by String Theory). But this series succeeds because while the science is integral to the story’s plot development, it doesn’t bog down in explanations or rely on the audience’s knowledge of physics to tell a good story. This is essentially the story of Adam (whose name is certainly no accident) and his colleagues, and they happen to work in a government agency that handles physics. These first issues introduce the Bureau and Adam, provide us with enough back-story to better understand his motivations but still keep him mysterious, and give us situations where readers can’t anticipate the outcome but are invested enough in the characters to care about how it all unravels.
The art was reminiscent of the dreamy line work I’ve seen in Duggan and Noto’s “The Infinite Horizon” and Johnson and Mutti’s “Right State.” The colors hewed to a warm palette except in the introductory front plates for each individual issue, where electric pinks and blues took over to good and jarring effect.
Overall, I enjoyed the stories and definitely want to know what happens next in the series. Ready for volume 2!
June 22, 2017
My bottom line. I cannot say that much of any of FBP is thrilling or new. But I am gonna get the next volume. There has to be something here, I have not quit found it, but I do want to try some more.
FBP Vol 1 Paperback. The plot is a mashup of other plots and fairly standard Sci Fi conventions. The loner hero with mystery about his father and a shaky upbringing. The new woman partner who is so much better than everyone else and because she is a woman… A hard working government service in a corrupt system selling out to greedy private interests the suddenly ex-partner who and so forth all the check boxes.
The gimmick is that the laws of physics are coming apart and there may be stuff, life or something from another dimension with which everyone will have to deal.
Laws of physics on the fritz? Who ya gonna call? Ghost oops, sorry wrong graphic novel. Here ya call the FBP, The Federal Bureau of Physics.
Artist, Writers Simon Oliver, Robbi Rodriguez, and Rico Renzi do the depressing big city dystopian American in proper depressing effect. They use an effective mix of primary colors, earth tones and large panels with pastels. So the art work is good if not that unique.
There is something here in the world of FBP. I have not found it in the story line, the art or the concept. But it is here to the degree that I want to look some more. Maybe I don’t get it, or maybe I don’t get it yet, but I will put down my money to find out. There is this much to recommend this series.
FBP Vol 1 Paperback. The plot is a mashup of other plots and fairly standard Sci Fi conventions. The loner hero with mystery about his father and a shaky upbringing. The new woman partner who is so much better than everyone else and because she is a woman… A hard working government service in a corrupt system selling out to greedy private interests the suddenly ex-partner who and so forth all the check boxes.
The gimmick is that the laws of physics are coming apart and there may be stuff, life or something from another dimension with which everyone will have to deal.
Laws of physics on the fritz? Who ya gonna call? Ghost oops, sorry wrong graphic novel. Here ya call the FBP, The Federal Bureau of Physics.
Artist, Writers Simon Oliver, Robbi Rodriguez, and Rico Renzi do the depressing big city dystopian American in proper depressing effect. They use an effective mix of primary colors, earth tones and large panels with pastels. So the art work is good if not that unique.
There is something here in the world of FBP. I have not found it in the story line, the art or the concept. But it is here to the degree that I want to look some more. Maybe I don’t get it, or maybe I don’t get it yet, but I will put down my money to find out. There is this much to recommend this series.
July 2, 2014
I haven't hidden the fact around here that I'm searching for science fiction in a U.S. comics world that at times feels dominated by fantasy (super heroes when I was growing were more science influenced/inspired in a very 1930s see Green Lantern and not fantasy see the changes to Spider-Man's origin), so I had high hopes for FBP.
First, with Karen Berger leaving as Vertigo's editor and Fables ending soon I was hoping this series would be a good addition to the line besides being science fiction. If your science fiction television tastes lean more towards Fringe, Torchwood and Quartermass than I believe you will enjoy this.
In the near future the laws of physics are no more. If anything the series tag line should be FBP agent Adam Hardy's father statement the impossible is possible. The Federal Bureau of Physics is the agency tasked with dealing with physics events, such as a localized gravity inversion.
Hints of a larger story are laid in this first volume. There are betrayals, action, disasters, and to my mind just fun. A side note that may or may not matter to some. A good portion of the cast is non-white. Agents Rosa Reyes is Latina and Adam Hardy's birth father is a Pakistani who immigrated to the U.S. Adam's uncle, who enters the story at the end is drawn as a Sikh, and I don't have a problem with that except in the flashback the uncle is not drawn that way.
First, with Karen Berger leaving as Vertigo's editor and Fables ending soon I was hoping this series would be a good addition to the line besides being science fiction. If your science fiction television tastes lean more towards Fringe, Torchwood and Quartermass than I believe you will enjoy this.
In the near future the laws of physics are no more. If anything the series tag line should be FBP agent Adam Hardy's father statement the impossible is possible. The Federal Bureau of Physics is the agency tasked with dealing with physics events, such as a localized gravity inversion.
Hints of a larger story are laid in this first volume. There are betrayals, action, disasters, and to my mind just fun. A side note that may or may not matter to some. A good portion of the cast is non-white. Agents Rosa Reyes is Latina and Adam Hardy's birth father is a Pakistani who immigrated to the U.S. Adam's uncle, who enters the story at the end is drawn as a Sikh, and I don't have a problem with that except in the flashback the uncle is not drawn that way.
March 2, 2014
The art here is fantastic, and immediately captivating, complimented perfectly by an incredible color palate. The concepts at work are also strong, exploring a world where mishaps of physics are common enough to require a dedicated federal service. Unfortunately the plot seems a a bit staggered and poorly paced, with a heavy reliance on torrential shovel-fed exposition. The characters personalities don't stand out nearly as much as their designs do either, leaving me a bit disappointed with the personal arcs told within. Here's hoping things get better script-wise, but the design really is top notch.
Read
January 12, 2014Initially known as Collider, this is the best Vertigo launch in quite some time. Like Simon Oliver's previous series there, The Exterminators, it's about underpaid, unappreciated public servants sworn to protect a world that mildly dislikes them - except this time the apocalyptic threat isn't bug gods, it's physics gone freeform. A tricky think to depict on the page, but Robbi Rodriguez' art has just the right deformability, and Rico Renzi supplies the most innovative colouring job I've seen since The Ultimates started.
May 16, 2014
When you mix awesome art with an interesting concept I'm generally onboard no matter what, and that is the case with the first edition of FBP. At times the storytelling becomes a little predictable, but by the end I was totally into the story that left off with a strong enough cliffhanger that I'm interested in seeing what happens next.
While the pencils and inks are well done the color scheme takes the trophy in this series and when you mix in the fantastic cover art (included) it's a beautiful thing to see.
While the pencils and inks are well done the color scheme takes the trophy in this series and when you mix in the fantastic cover art (included) it's a beautiful thing to see.
June 8, 2015
Why did I pick this book?
Ummm….. *mumbles* I thought it said Federal Bureau of Psychics.
The Verdict?
This was really science-y, but the story totally worked. The Federal Bureau of Physics is necessary because sometimes gravity stops working, or time starts to speed up. That's when you call in the FBP. I'm going to keep reading this to find out what happens and maybe I'll get lucky and I'll learn something.
Ummm….. *mumbles* I thought it said Federal Bureau of Psychics.
The Verdict?
This was really science-y, but the story totally worked. The Federal Bureau of Physics is necessary because sometimes gravity stops working, or time starts to speed up. That's when you call in the FBP. I'm going to keep reading this to find out what happens and maybe I'll get lucky and I'll learn something.
March 12, 2015
Great art, but the story is not that interesting so far. And the dialog is mostly technobabble and a few lines at the expense of people will mental disorders. Will continue to read when I can afford the second trade. The art is stunning.
April 16, 2015
The physics that underlies the comic is pretty awesome, and can make for some great story telling. I'm not too sold on the characters or the plot they selected to ride along, however. Great artwork.
January 2, 2015
I think the concept is great, but this one is all world building not enough story. Design is strong and I enjoyed the news footage "heard" throughout the panels.
December 3, 2014
Beautiful art, mediocre story, terrible gender politics. Hard pass on the rest of the series.
April 4, 2015
Nice exploration of what happens when things start to fall apart and we start to farm within the city walls.
July 14, 2016
This is fun, well-drawn, with a street-level, blue collar sensibility about it, and smartly written. Review of the second volume to follow.
September 24, 2016
Definitely not for everyone...if you can't handle heavy physics talk this isn't for you.
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