Spy Gal, crazed and unwell, comes to Valhalla! She's still hot, but could she actually still be in her right mind as well? Why is she REALLY at Valhalla? It's Bingo Night and the winner gets the greatest prize of all -- a full healing of all their ailments.
Brock Heasley is an author, filmmaker, and artist. He has written the novels Paper Bag Mask and The Shift; the memoir The Other Side of Fear: A True Story of Murder, Forgiveness, and the Peace Only Faith Can Bring; and a graphic novel collection of his comic, The SuperFogeys. After leaving his 15 year career as a graphic designer, Brock began his work in film. His feature film debut as Writer/Director/Producer, on the sci-fi film The Shift, was released by Angel Studios in 2023. He has a B.A. in Graphic Design from California State University, Fresno, and his work has been featured in the San Francisco Cartoon Art Museum.
Brock lives with his wife and daughters in California where they enjoy co-op video games, dancing in the living room, and eating breakfast for dinner.
The concept isn't bad - this is a collection of strips about an old folks home for superheroes and villains. The two collected chapters introduce the main characters and then detail the events of a bingo night. I was a little worried about the Spy Gal character at first; the representation did not seem very appropriate, but Brock manages to spin the concept in a positive direction. And he does manage to find a fair bit of humor (and perhaps a little pathos) from the events and personalities of these over-the-hill heroes and villains. It's a quick read, but also an enjoyable one. Even if there is a little too much pig urine featured...
Third World comics freebie. Suitable for teens and adults. Good color artwork . Super powered seniors in a nursing home. Hells waiting room gets really sad. Occasionally funny.
This comic book sets out to deliver a humorous take on the superhero genre by focusing on retired heroes in a nursing home, but unfortunately, it falls short. At the same time this comic book has a intriguing concept, the execution struggles with depth and engagement, leaving much to be desired.
The narrative in this comic book introduces us as readers to a group of former superheroes residing at Valhalla, a retirement community for super-powered individuals. While the premise offers potential for comedy and poignant reflections on aging, the story lacks cohesion and fails to capitalize on these themes. The plot feels disjointed, with scenes that transition abruptly and lack a strong central storyline to anchor this comic book.
The character development in this comic book is very minimal, with the former heroes appearing more as caricatures than fully realized individuals. The opportunity to explore their past glories and current challenges is largely missed, which has left me personally without a strong emotional connection to their stories. The interactions between characters are often superficial, relying on clichéd humor that falls flat.
The writing in this comic book struggles to find a consistent tone, oscillating between attempting humor and injecting moments of seriousness that lack impact. The dialogue often feels forced and lacks the wit needed to bring the characters or their situations to life. This inconsistency prevents the narrative from resonating emotionally or delivering the intended comedic punch.
The artwork itself in this comic book, while competent, does little to elevate the story. The illustrations capture the basic premise of elderly superheroes but lack the dynamism and expressiveness needed to enhance the narrative. The character designs, while distinct, don’t provide the visual flair necessary to make the heroes memorable or engaging.
The pacing of this comic book is pretty uneven, with scenes that either linger without purpose or rush through potentially engaging moments. This inconsistency affects the overall flow, preventing the story from building momentum or emotional resonance. Key plot points are introduced without adequate context, which has left me personally without a clear understanding of their significance.
Despite its shortcomings, the concept of exploring the lives of retired superheroes holds potential for future development. With more focused storytelling, robust character exploration, and sharper humor, subsequent comic books in this series could delve deeper into these themes and offer more satisfying narrative arcs.