Renderwrx Productions

Krazybov #4

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Review by PD Houston:

Krazybov has great intentions and great motivation behind it and I can't fault it for that or for it being available for free online (they charge a shipping charge if you want a print copy). What I do find fault with is a lack of consistency. Krazybov 4 is my second issue of the series which I've read. Issue 3 recieved a lukewarm review from me, and #4 will be pretty much the same.

Though issue 4's quality of art and artists is much higher than issue 3, the same problem which plagued issue 3 arrives here too. The lack of ability to tell a full and entertaining short story. Not all the stories fell into this category (particularly "Pictures Don't Lie" which got its point across even if it was kinda lackluster.  And "Grey Days" being really the only exception.)  The rest of the stories were rushed, unfinished or lacked in any kind of fullness of story. Now I should explain that most of the creators involved are new to the biz and should be forgiven their lack of practice and skill at this point in their careers. I applaud Bov (editor of this series) for making such a book possible with new creators like this, but I'd like to see more of a spark from the writers side of things.

Where I find problems with the stories themselves, I still find interest in the artists on display here. Many are very good and have a long and bright future ahead of them if they so decide. Stand out's to me included Beatus Vir on the "Rooftop" story written by Adam Wilson. His style is decidedly manga(ish), but its got some good energy and was nice to look at. But the best art in the issue by far I think was from Dave Windett on the short and dissapointing story "Pictures Don't Lie". His style is markedly cartoony, but every line was well placed and the storytelling was clear and readable. Personally I will try my best to keep track of him as I would like to see more from him.

So all in all if you are a talent scout I would recommend checking this series out, there's some good talent here to poach. If you are a reader of comics, I would say sure give it a try and be thankful it's free. To me though it's one of those anthologies I'd like to keep an eye on, because you never know when or where brilliance will arise, and this anthology is flirting with goodness every issue. Maybe it will breakthrough with an entirely brilliant issue sometime soon.