Comic Review: Pistolfist #1

Pistolfist #1

Writers: J. S. Earls and David A. Flanary, Jr.
Penciler: Andres Guinaldo
Colorist: Jason Embury
Letterer: Kel Nuttall
Publisher: Blue Water Comics

How many comic books do you find set during the Revolutionary War? Exactly! It's almost a completely untapped age for superhero adventure, J. S. Earls and David A. Flanary, Jr. tackle this overlooked era of superhero comic adventure with Pistolfist.

Pistolfist #1 starts off with Benjamin Franklin returning from Europe as the British attack Lexington, Massachusetts. That sets this book in 1775 at the beginning of the American Revolutionary War. As Franklin's ship approaches Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a masked rider assaults the British in Lexington to help the Minutemen who are being defeated. However, the Red Coats are just too many for the masked man and they overpower him.

Write off the bat, Earls and Flanary have my attention. Historical figures and action!

As Franklin laments the passing of his wife Deborah Read and ponders what could have happened to his design journal containing his life's work, the masked man finds himself in the hands of...well, I won't give that away. But we do learn that the masked man is Salem Attucks, brother of Crispus Attucks, the first man of five killed in the Boston Massacre.

I will say that Pistolfist #1 has a healthy dose of action, betrayal, intrigue, and mystery. What about historical accuracy? Franklin was returning to the colonies shortly after the American Revolution began. Franklin's wife did die shortly before the war began, and Franklin did have a daughter, Sally, and a son who was a Loyalist governor. He had another son, but I don't know if he'll be brought into the comic. Little is known about Crispus Attucks before being killed in Boston, so Salem is fictional, but since there's no proof that Crispus didn't have a brother, it's a good choice. There are other things that are true, but to reveal them now would be spoiling it. Let's just say that there's a lot of historical accuracy.

Guinaldo's art is good. I'm not very adept at describing art, but his action scenes are dynamic and he captures emotion well.

They are just beginning and you should join the ride. Pick up a copy pronto!

Check out the Pistolfist ComicSpace Page

and the Pistolfist trailer