“Copperhead” #1 is a spectacular sci-fi western with a heavy focus on the western part. I’m beyond on board with this book, and when I put it down I’m ready to read it again and again.
WRITTEN BY: Jay Faerber
ART BY: Scott Godlewski & Ron Riley
PUBLISHER: Image Comics
PRICE: $3.50
RELEASE: September 10, 2014
Reviewed By: Torbin Chimners
I’ve always loved sci-fi stories that focus on the more mundane side of their universe. Everything can’t always be space ships and intergalactic war. There are always real people living on backwater planets going about their day-to-day life.
Sheriff Bronson is our tough as nails protagonist. She’s a grumpy but likable law enforcer who’s son means the world to her. When we meet her she’s riding a mag-lev train on her way to Copperhead, on the planet Jasper, with her son, Zeke. Jay Faerber wastes no time establishing the kind of person Bronson is. She arrives in Copperhead and throws two idiots on their asses after they try to woo her by fighting.
Next we meet her Deputy, Budroxifinicus or Boo for short. Boo’s a rad looking alien who’s got a bit of an attitude problem, especially since Bronson beat Boo in the running for Sheriff. He’s also got quite the sass mouth, taking pot shots at Sheriff Bronson whenever he can. It’s a great dynamic and the characters play off of each other beautifully making the book a joy to read.
Bronson meets Benjamin Hickory after dealing with an awesome domestic dispute involving a redneck family of one-eyed-four-armed aliens. Hickory owns the mine Copperhead is settled around and happens to employ a large percentage of the towns residents.
He employs “arties,” artificial humans from a previous war, to act as his bodyguards. The arties are really interesting; we are given very little information on them besides the fact that Bronson has some serious issues with them. They also appear to come in a wide variety of colours and have extraordinarily prominent brows.
Copperhead is off to a promising start with only a few minor bumps in the road. Deputy Boo is definitely the stand out of the issue and immediately my favorite character. While Hickory seems to be being set up as a villain but ultimately he comes off as incredibly hokey and humdrum.
It’s also very difficult to tell what the overarching plot is actually going to be, we’re given numerous vague references to things but it’s unclear what’s actually important. I’m sure issue #2 will begin to answer those questions.
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Torbin Chimners AKA Torin Chambers is a rad dude from the nineties who does film stuff or something. Thomas the Tank Engine is his favorite transformer. Find him on Twitter @Vulgar_Rhombus