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Black Badge #1
Black Badge Vol. 1
An espionage series about a top-secret, elite branch of boy scouts tasked by the government to take on covert missions.
Meet the Black Badges, a top-secret branch of boy scouts tasked by the government to take on covert missions that no adult ever could. Among their organization, the Black Badges are the elite—the best of the best. The missions they’re tasked with are dangerous, and will only get worse as their leader’s attention is split between their objective and tracking down a lost team member. A member who disappeared years ago...presumed dead.
Reuniting New York Times bestselling author Matt Kindt (Mind MGMT) and illustrator Tyler Jenkins (Peter Panzerfaust) following their multiple Eisner Award-nominated series Grass Kings, Black Badge is a haunting look at foreign policy, culture wars, and isolationism through the lens of kids who know they must fix the world that adults have broken.
Meet the Black Badges, a top-secret branch of boy scouts tasked by the government to take on covert missions that no adult ever could. Among their organization, the Black Badges are the elite—the best of the best. The missions they’re tasked with are dangerous, and will only get worse as their leader’s attention is split between their objective and tracking down a lost team member. A member who disappeared years ago...presumed dead.
Reuniting New York Times bestselling author Matt Kindt (Mind MGMT) and illustrator Tyler Jenkins (Peter Panzerfaust) following their multiple Eisner Award-nominated series Grass Kings, Black Badge is a haunting look at foreign policy, culture wars, and isolationism through the lens of kids who know they must fix the world that adults have broken.
128 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2019
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222 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
February 28, 2019
An interesting premise but with too little information given about this world yet. Apparently, Boy Scouts are being recruited as spies and sent around the world using the Scouts as a cover. There are also hints at a larger conspiracy going on. I didn't like how we were just thrown into this world without any explanation of what's going on. The boys just go on missions with little explanation. Tyler Jenkins art is OK, although he draws some Rob Liefeld-type skinny legs.
Received a review copy from Boom! and NetGalley. All thoughts are my own and in no way influenced by the aforementioned.
Received a review copy from Boom! and NetGalley. All thoughts are my own and in no way influenced by the aforementioned.
January 23, 2020
“Black Badge: Boys Reconnoiter Organization
Always prepared (For sabotage, demolitions, assassinations, and global upheaval)”
Black Badge, the new series by Matt Kindt and Tyler Jenkins, has a fun premise: Boy Scouts can earn a kind of black op status/rank called the Black Badge when recruited by the feds for a series of Top Secret missions. Why scouts?
“Your youth makes you invisible. Your cunning is unexpected. And your heart is not yet jaded.”
And there’s a kind of fun middle grades/ya/Greta Thunberg view of the world here that the world is a mess and adults sure as heck ain’t goin’ to get ‘er dun.
The feds employ the urban gangsta shorties principle: Send kids in to do the mission, sure; they can fly under the radar, claim they're lost (and as Scouts, they always are!) and no one’s gonna suspect 'em. Hey, they're just kids!!
One kid has literally earned all the other Scout badges toward Black Badge, including The Theories of Mind Management, which no one has even heard of, let alone earned. There’re other merit badge you need to earn to become a Black Badge: Household Explosives, Water Torture, Lying, Garroting. You know, boy stuff!
Of course it’s Matt Kindt so it’s a great idea but sometimes confusing in the details, but who cares? Why Black "Badge" when you have to earn badges to get the badge? But you gotta love the amusing cover, designed and drawn by Kindt, featuring a Boy Scout with a bloody nose and a badge sash.
Special missions take them from North Korea (where they have to blow up a building) to Siberia to Afghanistan (to free a spy) to Pakistan. . . and when they achieve the Black Badge they get to go to a Rainbow Jamboree in Hawaii! Cool?!
There are funny touches in this essentially funny comic: In the second story they train from Seoul to Siberia and meet some Young Canadian Mounties on a “field trip,” haw! In Pakistan, they find a guy who helped set up The Grass Kingdom (one of Kindt’s series). They meet a counter-espionage guy named Hook-Hand. Kindt, like Lemire, loves him some pulpy stuff with goofy names.
It’s kind of a mock-epic James Bond (comic) thriller featuring Boy Scouts! Love it!!
Always prepared (For sabotage, demolitions, assassinations, and global upheaval)”
Black Badge, the new series by Matt Kindt and Tyler Jenkins, has a fun premise: Boy Scouts can earn a kind of black op status/rank called the Black Badge when recruited by the feds for a series of Top Secret missions. Why scouts?
“Your youth makes you invisible. Your cunning is unexpected. And your heart is not yet jaded.”
And there’s a kind of fun middle grades/ya/Greta Thunberg view of the world here that the world is a mess and adults sure as heck ain’t goin’ to get ‘er dun.
The feds employ the urban gangsta shorties principle: Send kids in to do the mission, sure; they can fly under the radar, claim they're lost (and as Scouts, they always are!) and no one’s gonna suspect 'em. Hey, they're just kids!!
One kid has literally earned all the other Scout badges toward Black Badge, including The Theories of Mind Management, which no one has even heard of, let alone earned. There’re other merit badge you need to earn to become a Black Badge: Household Explosives, Water Torture, Lying, Garroting. You know, boy stuff!
Of course it’s Matt Kindt so it’s a great idea but sometimes confusing in the details, but who cares? Why Black "Badge" when you have to earn badges to get the badge? But you gotta love the amusing cover, designed and drawn by Kindt, featuring a Boy Scout with a bloody nose and a badge sash.
Special missions take them from North Korea (where they have to blow up a building) to Siberia to Afghanistan (to free a spy) to Pakistan. . . and when they achieve the Black Badge they get to go to a Rainbow Jamboree in Hawaii! Cool?!
There are funny touches in this essentially funny comic: In the second story they train from Seoul to Siberia and meet some Young Canadian Mounties on a “field trip,” haw! In Pakistan, they find a guy who helped set up The Grass Kingdom (one of Kindt’s series). They meet a counter-espionage guy named Hook-Hand. Kindt, like Lemire, loves him some pulpy stuff with goofy names.
It’s kind of a mock-epic James Bond (comic) thriller featuring Boy Scouts! Love it!!
October 2, 2019
One of those books that gets very dumb very fast once it explains its pitch meeting high concept: the Boy Scouts is a real paramilitary force that performs black-ops assassinations and secret agent extractions. There's a badge for your first kill, ha-ha-ha-hurggggghhhh.
The ugly art kept me from telling that apparently one of the four main characters is supposed to be female. Seriously, I had no clue until I saw the word "her" on a sketch page in the back of the book.
And two or three times text is included in the background of the art that says the Black Badge group was founded by William Randolph Hearst, but late in the book a character says it was formed by "William Hurst." That's just sloppy.
The ugly art kept me from telling that apparently one of the four main characters is supposed to be female. Seriously, I had no clue until I saw the word "her" on a sketch page in the back of the book.
And two or three times text is included in the background of the art that says the Black Badge group was founded by William Randolph Hearst, but late in the book a character says it was formed by "William Hurst." That's just sloppy.
April 23, 2019
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley for a fair and honest review.
I have read Matt Kindt's work in the past and have always enjoyed them. So when I saw that he had a new book out I had to check it out. I did not know at the time that this was about a secret op team of boy scouts. Honestly, that seems kinda strange and unreal. That and the fact that the missions seemed to be super short in duration I found this to be pretty a medicore read. Not a terrible read, but just average. Although the artwork was very beautiful at times. I really enjoyed the painted landscape scenes. Something I was wondering after reading this was I noticed the phrase "grass Kingdoms
was mentioned a few times near the end of the volume and was wondering if the 2 titles were connected in some way?
I have read Matt Kindt's work in the past and have always enjoyed them. So when I saw that he had a new book out I had to check it out. I did not know at the time that this was about a secret op team of boy scouts. Honestly, that seems kinda strange and unreal. That and the fact that the missions seemed to be super short in duration I found this to be pretty a medicore read. Not a terrible read, but just average. Although the artwork was very beautiful at times. I really enjoyed the painted landscape scenes. Something I was wondering after reading this was I noticed the phrase "grass Kingdoms
was mentioned a few times near the end of the volume and was wondering if the 2 titles were connected in some way?
August 17, 2020
Maybe me and Matt Kindt stuff just don't mix. I think highest think I've given his stuff is a 3.
Black Badge is about a group of boy scouts doing covert op missions. They go in, extract, hide, deliver, and so on. Basically they're like mini-James Bond. And the idea is interesting enough with 4 very different main characters. Through the issues you get a feel for each one and what makes them different.
However, the dialogue is really dry. I didn't really care for any of the characters. The only one I found normal was the newest kid who kept saying what we the readers are thinking. "What is wrong with you people? Why are you doing these missions? WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE?" and so on. It was refreshing to see atleast that.
But overall this was just okay. A 2.5 out of 5.
Black Badge is about a group of boy scouts doing covert op missions. They go in, extract, hide, deliver, and so on. Basically they're like mini-James Bond. And the idea is interesting enough with 4 very different main characters. Through the issues you get a feel for each one and what makes them different.
However, the dialogue is really dry. I didn't really care for any of the characters. The only one I found normal was the newest kid who kept saying what we the readers are thinking. "What is wrong with you people? Why are you doing these missions? WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE?" and so on. It was refreshing to see atleast that.
But overall this was just okay. A 2.5 out of 5.
August 8, 2019
The world-building isn't as tight as it could be, leaving the reader distracted at times by the lack of explanation or plausibility in some of the more absurd adventures.
May 26, 2019
Originating from the United Kingdom, scouting aims to support young people in their physical and mental development so that they may play constructive roles in society, with a strong focus on the outdoors and survival skills. In terms of the depiction of scouts in pop culture, the best would have to be River Phoenix as the young Indiana Jones in The Last Crusade, as well as that one episode of The Simpsons. Sadly, what new spin on scouting that new BOOM! Studios series Black Badge presents lacks the fun of those other works.
Please click here for my full review.
Please click here for my full review.
December 31, 2019
I read this in the individual issues:
BLACK BADGE #1 - 5 (BOOM! Studios, August - December 2018) Written by Matt Kindt. Illustrated by Tyler Jenkins. Colors by Hilary Jenkns. Lettered by Jim Campbell. Main covers by Matt Kindt & Tyler Jenkins.
The reviews and ratings for BLACK BADGE on the Goodreads website are all over the place, ranging from extreme love to extreme dislike.
I found this to be a fun and engaging book, with characters that seemed to act like young people would under these highly unusual circumstances. Perhaps I’m just used to the quirkiness of Matt Kindt’s creativity and have learned to appreciate it for what it is.
The main premise is that Boy Scouts with special skills are being selected to serve as spies and “black-ops” agents around the world. Their participation in Scouts makes an excellent cover, as Scouts are known for honor and integrity and would never be suspected of these kinds of activities. Underneath the surface is a deeper story, and the Scouts could be being used for a darker purpose. Later issues deal with this, but I don’t want to spoil things — just hint at the craziness yet to come.
ISSUE # 1:
I love the mix of characters, just four comprising this special squad: Kenny the group leader, who always seems to have the right supplies in his backpack; Cliff the security specialist and hand-to-hand combat expert; Mitz the weapons and disguise master who seems to have feminine features; and Willy the new and overweight recruit with communications expertise. Willy later learns he’s a replacement for Jimmy, gone missing on an earlier adventure.
While on a Scout trip to South Korea, the four take a canoe trip and get lost. They try to find their way back on foot, head in the wrong direction, and end up crossing over into North Korea. The mission begins but doesn’t end they way they anticipated. Suspicions begin to form.
Throughout the series, the various backgrounds of each character are told in two-tone flashbacks. Jenkins art style is very similar to Kindt’s, with a bit more detail and a flair for depicting landscapes and wide screen views.
ISSUE #2:
Moving on from Issue #1 to a Scout train trip through Russian Siberia where the group meet a quartet of young Canadian Mounties who seem to know more than they should. There’s a fun reference to Pippi Longstocking after Mitz’s flashback, and the whole series is peppered with references to pop culture as well as Kindt’s and Jenkin’s works on The Grass Kings, Mind Management and other series. There’s a prison extraction involved here that also concludes with unexpected results.
ISSUE #3:
On a mission to Afghanistan we learn what happened to the missing Jimmy, considered dead. The Afghan agent (looking like a Taliban member and also looking ridiculous in a Scoutmaster uniform) who leads them through their mission is suspicious and may be a traitor. They learn that Jimmy is alive and now part of an older squad.
ISSUE #4:
The Afghan mission concludes. Returning to training camp, the Black Badgers give a false mission report to their commander, Gottschalk, whom they no longer trust. They learn more of the reasons behind their selection, and are assigned to participate in a Rainbow Badge Jamboree on a private Hawaiian island in competition with other similar Scout packs: Blue Badges, White Badges, and Pink Badges.
ISSUE #5:
The island jamboree begins. Competition gets fierce and violent. The different squads share notes and doubts grow about their true purpose. The issue ends on a cliff-hanger, as this concludes the first volume of stories.
RATING SYSTEM
STORY: This is meant to be fun, so don’t think too hard about whether or not these situations are viable or you’ll end up disappointed. 2.5 POINTS.
ART: Initially the art seemed a little too simplistic for my tastes, but I warmed up to it. 2 POINTS
COVERS: Do an appropriate job of indicating what the contents have to offer. The back cover schematics are a blast to go over. 2 POINTS
READ AGAIN? It was fun to go back and read again in order to catch all the nuances. I had a better appreciation of this as well. 1 POINT.
RECOMMEND? For fans of a quirky story that entertains, yes. 1 POINT
TOTAL RATING: 8.5 OUT OF A POSSIBLE 10 POINTS. WELL ABOVE AVERAGE.
BLACK BADGE #1 - 5 (BOOM! Studios, August - December 2018) Written by Matt Kindt. Illustrated by Tyler Jenkins. Colors by Hilary Jenkns. Lettered by Jim Campbell. Main covers by Matt Kindt & Tyler Jenkins.
The reviews and ratings for BLACK BADGE on the Goodreads website are all over the place, ranging from extreme love to extreme dislike.
I found this to be a fun and engaging book, with characters that seemed to act like young people would under these highly unusual circumstances. Perhaps I’m just used to the quirkiness of Matt Kindt’s creativity and have learned to appreciate it for what it is.
The main premise is that Boy Scouts with special skills are being selected to serve as spies and “black-ops” agents around the world. Their participation in Scouts makes an excellent cover, as Scouts are known for honor and integrity and would never be suspected of these kinds of activities. Underneath the surface is a deeper story, and the Scouts could be being used for a darker purpose. Later issues deal with this, but I don’t want to spoil things — just hint at the craziness yet to come.
ISSUE # 1:
I love the mix of characters, just four comprising this special squad: Kenny the group leader, who always seems to have the right supplies in his backpack; Cliff the security specialist and hand-to-hand combat expert; Mitz the weapons and disguise master who seems to have feminine features; and Willy the new and overweight recruit with communications expertise. Willy later learns he’s a replacement for Jimmy, gone missing on an earlier adventure.
While on a Scout trip to South Korea, the four take a canoe trip and get lost. They try to find their way back on foot, head in the wrong direction, and end up crossing over into North Korea. The mission begins but doesn’t end they way they anticipated. Suspicions begin to form.
Throughout the series, the various backgrounds of each character are told in two-tone flashbacks. Jenkins art style is very similar to Kindt’s, with a bit more detail and a flair for depicting landscapes and wide screen views.
ISSUE #2:
Moving on from Issue #1 to a Scout train trip through Russian Siberia where the group meet a quartet of young Canadian Mounties who seem to know more than they should. There’s a fun reference to Pippi Longstocking after Mitz’s flashback, and the whole series is peppered with references to pop culture as well as Kindt’s and Jenkin’s works on The Grass Kings, Mind Management and other series. There’s a prison extraction involved here that also concludes with unexpected results.
ISSUE #3:
On a mission to Afghanistan we learn what happened to the missing Jimmy, considered dead. The Afghan agent (looking like a Taliban member and also looking ridiculous in a Scoutmaster uniform) who leads them through their mission is suspicious and may be a traitor. They learn that Jimmy is alive and now part of an older squad.
ISSUE #4:
The Afghan mission concludes. Returning to training camp, the Black Badgers give a false mission report to their commander, Gottschalk, whom they no longer trust. They learn more of the reasons behind their selection, and are assigned to participate in a Rainbow Badge Jamboree on a private Hawaiian island in competition with other similar Scout packs: Blue Badges, White Badges, and Pink Badges.
ISSUE #5:
The island jamboree begins. Competition gets fierce and violent. The different squads share notes and doubts grow about their true purpose. The issue ends on a cliff-hanger, as this concludes the first volume of stories.
RATING SYSTEM
STORY: This is meant to be fun, so don’t think too hard about whether or not these situations are viable or you’ll end up disappointed. 2.5 POINTS.
ART: Initially the art seemed a little too simplistic for my tastes, but I warmed up to it. 2 POINTS
COVERS: Do an appropriate job of indicating what the contents have to offer. The back cover schematics are a blast to go over. 2 POINTS
READ AGAIN? It was fun to go back and read again in order to catch all the nuances. I had a better appreciation of this as well. 1 POINT.
RECOMMEND? For fans of a quirky story that entertains, yes. 1 POINT
TOTAL RATING: 8.5 OUT OF A POSSIBLE 10 POINTS. WELL ABOVE AVERAGE.
January 17, 2019
I didn't really know what to expect from the book other than it was written by Matt Kindt, so it must be good. I loved his Mind MGMT series and will give anything he writes a shot.
And I was not disappointed. This is very cool story about what is essentially the "black ops" team of the boy scouts. And yes, I mean young kids as a black ops team. And Kindt takes this premise to the farthest points it can go. Espionage, prison riots, murder and more are all carried out by the crew to varying degree's of success.
The premise hooks you in, but the execution really sells the book. Its written wonderfully with great dialog and moments of action and also quiet moments that give us an insight into the characters. And the art flows really well with the story. It has a loose feel to it that is almost cartoony, but the line work is messy and the shadows are dark, giving us a nice tone for the overall story.
We get a great plot but are also get these questions on themes such as " the means justifying the ends", what the "greater good" entails overall, and issues with the burden of blame.
If you enjoy Kindt, or just like espionage stories, you will enjoy this. Check it out.
And I was not disappointed. This is very cool story about what is essentially the "black ops" team of the boy scouts. And yes, I mean young kids as a black ops team. And Kindt takes this premise to the farthest points it can go. Espionage, prison riots, murder and more are all carried out by the crew to varying degree's of success.
The premise hooks you in, but the execution really sells the book. Its written wonderfully with great dialog and moments of action and also quiet moments that give us an insight into the characters. And the art flows really well with the story. It has a loose feel to it that is almost cartoony, but the line work is messy and the shadows are dark, giving us a nice tone for the overall story.
We get a great plot but are also get these questions on themes such as " the means justifying the ends", what the "greater good" entails overall, and issues with the burden of blame.
If you enjoy Kindt, or just like espionage stories, you will enjoy this. Check it out.
March 11, 2019
They say that the devil is in the details and boy, there is a lot of details in this book that makes it great. I've really enjoyed the small hints of Matt Kindt's older books (Mind MGMT, Grass Kings) even I am yet to read them.
Anyways good espionage comics are hard to come by. To be honest, I can only recall Queen & Country and Velvet but do not despair! Now you can add Black Badge on the list because it's really good. Training boy scouts into the spec-ops is fun and also a clever idea as the kids are usually not suspicious behind enemy lines.
In the beginning, we are introduced to the Black Badge unit, four elite boy scouts designed for top-secret missions. There's a new guy on the team and we are basically following their missions. But later on, we'll learn more about the recent history and things are getting serious really fast. I was instantly hooked and can't wait for more.
Tyler Jenkins's art fits the story and the atmosphere really well.
Thank you NetGalley and BOOM! Studios for giving me a review copy of this book. #NetGalley #BlackBadge
Anyways good espionage comics are hard to come by. To be honest, I can only recall Queen & Country and Velvet but do not despair! Now you can add Black Badge on the list because it's really good. Training boy scouts into the spec-ops is fun and also a clever idea as the kids are usually not suspicious behind enemy lines.
In the beginning, we are introduced to the Black Badge unit, four elite boy scouts designed for top-secret missions. There's a new guy on the team and we are basically following their missions. But later on, we'll learn more about the recent history and things are getting serious really fast. I was instantly hooked and can't wait for more.
Tyler Jenkins's art fits the story and the atmosphere really well.
Thank you NetGalley and BOOM! Studios for giving me a review copy of this book. #NetGalley #BlackBadge
August 8, 2019
I read this without any prior knowledge of this series, basically bought it on Matt Kindt's name alone - even though Kindt can be hit or miss with me.
I also haven't read any of Mind Management, to which there are several small references, so I have no idea how they might be connected.
I really enjoyed this book! The premise is silly (boy scouts are boy spies/assassins), but creates a world that is rich with story opportunity, while also having room for adolescence and coming-of-age stories.
In a strange way, this really reminds me of Deadly Class - if DC had dropped its incessant need to be cool, and also Wes Anderson was involved, somehow.
(Read as five single issues.)
I also haven't read any of Mind Management, to which there are several small references, so I have no idea how they might be connected.
I really enjoyed this book! The premise is silly (boy scouts are boy spies/assassins), but creates a world that is rich with story opportunity, while also having room for adolescence and coming-of-age stories.
In a strange way, this really reminds me of Deadly Class - if DC had dropped its incessant need to be cool, and also Wes Anderson was involved, somehow.
(Read as five single issues.)
June 27, 2020
Holy hell, this was good. I don't care about spycraft or espionage, but this volume got me interested - apparently if you put national security into the hands of a scout troop, you've got me hooked. It's sort of like Lumberjanes, if the troop were mixed-gender, mean, and tasked with wetwork. Definitely a series I'll be picking up from now on - and, apart from the excellent art, the coloring is really unique and phenomenal.
August 28, 2019
What if the small group of the best boy scouts were drafted to black-ops? You'll found here. The idea is awesome, the story is very nice, adventurous, thrilling. I appreciate that and this is somehow high-quality comics content. With big BUT. The art. I was annoyed by art from "Leeroy" Jenkins before. And here is Kindt and our tough relationship bringing him in for another spin. And I hate that art. The pencil/inks are so shabby for me and colouring feels like random work of some bored teenager who got this colouring book in his bored hands. Any change in art style is refreshing. But we don't get that much, only in (for the first book very rare) flashbacks. I'm not surprised, the Jenkins is that kind of art Kind would pick, but it's a big disappointment for me. Other than that, the Kind is again a little bit of Kind. Picking very interesting (and for me tempting) theme and weaving it to the interesting and original story. But, sadly, eventually, it becomes a bit too much for me. And Jamboree is the point for that. The idea is expanded too much for my tase here. That's a shame, butI'll see how the rest will go: will it eventually work or it just ends annoying for me as Dept. H. despite it still may stand for somebody else as good comics. Kind is a great author. He has a bad taste for artists and somehow he can burn my hype as a dry cotton ball, but he has the writer's skill and great imagination.
December 23, 2023
Premise: “An espionage series about a top-secret, elite branch of Boy Scouts tasked by the government to take on covert missions.”
I was intrigued by the idea of elite scouts who infiltrate different countries undercover, as both my boys are scouts. At first, I was amused at the idea of scouts as decoys, but the story by Matt Kindt proved to be more nuanced than I expected with some deeper themes regarding political and social agendas.
Kenny, Cliff, Mitzi and new team member Willy begin their adventure in South Korea with a mission of getting into North Korea to spy. When caught there (and anywhere else) they claim to be lost, and government officials never take them seriously as a threat and always release them. They next move to Siberia, and later Pakistan, and we are introduced to a larger web of connections and conspiracies. A lack of communication between team members and higher-ups was an unwelcome trope and led to the reader, and the team themselves, questioning who could really be trusted. The book ends with an upcoming Hunger Games-esque competition between this Black Badge squad and other young scout teams.
The sketchy artwork by Tyler Jenkins, colored in with watercolors and gouache by Hilary Jenkins, was reminiscent of Jeff Lemire’s work (who does a variant cover). While this style can be imprecise for small details, it gives the story an appropriate restless and shadowy look. Flashbacks, which often were suspect, are shown as boldly monochromatic and give you visual clues of time shifts. The layouts were varied with some nice splash pages, with the outdoor scenes drawn especially well.
Thank you to NetGalley for giving me an advance online copy. This new series could potentially take off with the YA crowd, as an edgier and more mature version of Lumberjanes, for both sexes. I’ll keep my eye on this as a potential purchase for my library collection.
This review can also be found on my blog: https://graphicnovelty2.com/2019/04/1...
I was intrigued by the idea of elite scouts who infiltrate different countries undercover, as both my boys are scouts. At first, I was amused at the idea of scouts as decoys, but the story by Matt Kindt proved to be more nuanced than I expected with some deeper themes regarding political and social agendas.
Kenny, Cliff, Mitzi and new team member Willy begin their adventure in South Korea with a mission of getting into North Korea to spy. When caught there (and anywhere else) they claim to be lost, and government officials never take them seriously as a threat and always release them. They next move to Siberia, and later Pakistan, and we are introduced to a larger web of connections and conspiracies. A lack of communication between team members and higher-ups was an unwelcome trope and led to the reader, and the team themselves, questioning who could really be trusted. The book ends with an upcoming Hunger Games-esque competition between this Black Badge squad and other young scout teams.
The sketchy artwork by Tyler Jenkins, colored in with watercolors and gouache by Hilary Jenkins, was reminiscent of Jeff Lemire’s work (who does a variant cover). While this style can be imprecise for small details, it gives the story an appropriate restless and shadowy look. Flashbacks, which often were suspect, are shown as boldly monochromatic and give you visual clues of time shifts. The layouts were varied with some nice splash pages, with the outdoor scenes drawn especially well.
Thank you to NetGalley for giving me an advance online copy. This new series could potentially take off with the YA crowd, as an edgier and more mature version of Lumberjanes, for both sexes. I’ll keep my eye on this as a potential purchase for my library collection.
This review can also be found on my blog: https://graphicnovelty2.com/2019/04/1...
February 5, 2019
Disclaimer: I received a free ecopy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Someone thought it was a great idea to take a bunch of kids, train them to be spies and assassins and turn them loose on the world. This all happens in the guise of a scout troop system similar to the Boy Scouts. The missions that we get to see the members of the Black Badges on in this volume are somewhat disconnected. They flow pretty well from one to the next. I didn't feel like there was an overarching plotline that tied them together well enough, which is perfectly fine. I like Matt Kindt's writing quit a bit and can forgive a looser storytelling style in hopes of seeing a payoff down the line.
I think the big thing is that I enjoyed reading the characters. The first chapter is clearly an introduction because each of the Black Badge members is presented based on the role that they are meant to fill. They start to develop within that first issue, but it is really in the second and later parts that they take off. There is a new kid and a bit of mystery about what happened to the Black Badge that he replaced. This gets some payoff before the end of the book, yet it doesn't get resolved. And that's part of why I enjoyed this book. It sets down a lot of story points, introduces the characters and the system they work in, and ends with a clear direction for the next volume. The worldbuilding that goes into this volume definitely lays out the potential for the setting, with these characters or new ones.
The art is great. The drawings are good and the watercolor effect is great. After reading this book, I want to see more of this series to find out what happens next.
Someone thought it was a great idea to take a bunch of kids, train them to be spies and assassins and turn them loose on the world. This all happens in the guise of a scout troop system similar to the Boy Scouts. The missions that we get to see the members of the Black Badges on in this volume are somewhat disconnected. They flow pretty well from one to the next. I didn't feel like there was an overarching plotline that tied them together well enough, which is perfectly fine. I like Matt Kindt's writing quit a bit and can forgive a looser storytelling style in hopes of seeing a payoff down the line.
I think the big thing is that I enjoyed reading the characters. The first chapter is clearly an introduction because each of the Black Badge members is presented based on the role that they are meant to fill. They start to develop within that first issue, but it is really in the second and later parts that they take off. There is a new kid and a bit of mystery about what happened to the Black Badge that he replaced. This gets some payoff before the end of the book, yet it doesn't get resolved. And that's part of why I enjoyed this book. It sets down a lot of story points, introduces the characters and the system they work in, and ends with a clear direction for the next volume. The worldbuilding that goes into this volume definitely lays out the potential for the setting, with these characters or new ones.
The art is great. The drawings are good and the watercolor effect is great. After reading this book, I want to see more of this series to find out what happens next.
February 26, 2019
Give me little kids and screwed up situations. I’m in. This is a special operation Boy Scout troop.... pretty rad.
April 27, 2020
So scouts are spies or james bond type characters who are sent.on random missions to earn this badge. It just seems super weird. It works at times but the start is a bit confusing as theres really no world building or explanation of what's going on. The sketchy art isnt my fave but it probs suits Kindts style of story
January 15, 2019
I received a copy of Black Badge Vol. 1 through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Black Badge is a new series from Boom! Box. Lately, I’ve been willing to give almost any series from Boom! a chance, simply because they’ve been so awesome about publishing new and different things. Black Badge was no exception to this.
The series is about a particular branch of the boy scouts – the Black Badges. Specifically, the series follows four of them through their harrowing tales of espionage, subterfuge, and tactical maneuvers.
For more reviews, check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
Black Badge is a new series from Boom! Box. Lately, I’ve been willing to give almost any series from Boom! a chance, simply because they’ve been so awesome about publishing new and different things. Black Badge was no exception to this.
The series is about a particular branch of the boy scouts – the Black Badges. Specifically, the series follows four of them through their harrowing tales of espionage, subterfuge, and tactical maneuvers.
For more reviews, check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
February 16, 2020
A fleetingly fun start to another odd, conspiracy-tinged series from Matt Kindt. "Hey, what if the boy scouts were actually teenage paramilitaries?" It's a dumb idea, but Kindt aggressively leans into it, expanding the world from one group of Black Badge scouts into a worldwide web of super-scouts.
I can't say I didn't enjoy the various escapades of the Black Badge scouts in this first volume, though they never amounted to a cohesive whole. The abrupt ending mid-mission made this volume feel a bit light. Tyler Jenkins art is probably an acquired tasty - very sketchy, populated with lean, mean figures. I dug it, especially the coloring by Hilary Jenkins.
I'm intrigued enough to keep reading, but not excited. I don't think this series will rise to Mind MGMT's level. Maybe not even Grass King's level. It's better than reading about the actual boy scouts, though.
I can't say I didn't enjoy the various escapades of the Black Badge scouts in this first volume, though they never amounted to a cohesive whole. The abrupt ending mid-mission made this volume feel a bit light. Tyler Jenkins art is probably an acquired tasty - very sketchy, populated with lean, mean figures. I dug it, especially the coloring by Hilary Jenkins.
I'm intrigued enough to keep reading, but not excited. I don't think this series will rise to Mind MGMT's level. Maybe not even Grass King's level. It's better than reading about the actual boy scouts, though.
April 18, 2019
Black Badge is a comic about boy scouts. Not just any boy scouts though. The cream of the crop, best of the best, boy scouts. These scouts have earned every badge there is to earn. Or so they thought. They find out that there is another badge, the black badge.
Having been a Girl Scout my entire life I really enjoyed reading about this fictional universe surrounding using children - specifically scouts - to carry out secret missions. Because really who expects a bunch of kids, right? The plot of the book is nice, well paced and not rushed. Secrets are teased out as we read along. I really enjoyed the story line and the art style as well. I would highly recommend this book, especially if you are a fan of spy stories. Altogether, it was a fun story and I am excited to read more!
Having been a Girl Scout my entire life I really enjoyed reading about this fictional universe surrounding using children - specifically scouts - to carry out secret missions. Because really who expects a bunch of kids, right? The plot of the book is nice, well paced and not rushed. Secrets are teased out as we read along. I really enjoyed the story line and the art style as well. I would highly recommend this book, especially if you are a fan of spy stories. Altogether, it was a fun story and I am excited to read more!
March 9, 2019
I loved it! I'm kinda shocked how much I just immediately fell in love with the comic. The art is gorgeous with a watercolor feel to it. The first volume didn't leave us with much information but I am excited to see the world of the Black Badge as the volumes continue. I loved the unique premise of the story and I'm already looking forward to future volumes.
June 9, 2019
I love all things Kindt. And even some Mind Mgmt Easter eggs!!!
February 9, 2021
Extreme boy scouting mostly for the deniability. Quite a different list of badges than I'm used to.
May 23, 2019
Black Badge is an intriguing series. It is a combination of the down and dirty black OPS type narrative against the wholesomeness of the Boy Scouts. It makes sense when you think about it. It takes an amazing amount of dedication to get your badges, and it is in a variety of fields. What better way to find the perfect type recruits than to recruit from a pool of characters that do it for self-betterment. The writing is excellent and the graphics are top notch. I would expect nothing less than great from Tyler Jenkins. (I dug Grass Kings) I definitely think if you love espionage stories with a twist, this is the right thing to read. Check it out!
May 29, 2019
Many thanks to BOOM! Studios and Netgalley for this ARC, in exchange for an honest review.
If Wes Anderson made a sequel to Moonrise Kingdom, following his scouts, and placed them in a Mission Impossible type scenario is, it might look like this. Black Badge feels so familiar, and it helps that the storytelling and the art is so confident in itself, and doesn’t forget to have fun with its premise, it’s difficult not to be enchanted by any of this.
There’s so much world-building that gets revealed, besides having the events play within an alternate-US, but in terms to the different scouts that are out in the world, casually making changes everyday.
I’m definitely going to keep up with this series, and can’t wait to see what’s coming up for these characters
If Wes Anderson made a sequel to Moonrise Kingdom, following his scouts, and placed them in a Mission Impossible type scenario is, it might look like this. Black Badge feels so familiar, and it helps that the storytelling and the art is so confident in itself, and doesn’t forget to have fun with its premise, it’s difficult not to be enchanted by any of this.
There’s so much world-building that gets revealed, besides having the events play within an alternate-US, but in terms to the different scouts that are out in the world, casually making changes everyday.
I’m definitely going to keep up with this series, and can’t wait to see what’s coming up for these characters
February 12, 2019
While I liked the core plot, I still have yet to get fully hooked by the core characters, the structuring (just getting tossed in and having Willy act as the audience POV character), and the end of the last issue that comprises the volume (namely, how many issues were collected in the trade). I did also like the passing MIND MGMT reference. (e-galley from NetGalley)
January 2, 2019
I love me some Matt Kindt. Great take on Boy Scouts. I especially loved that one of the badges you can earn is linked to the Mind Management.
April 14, 2021
Solid 3.5
October 26, 2022
This is a blast!
Want more! lol!
Want more! lol!
May 9, 2023
Sleek and well-constructed. Dark and sly, nice and action-y!
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