Villains

(Viper, 2006)
™ and © Viper Comics & respective creators

What does it take to become a super-villain? Maybe it’s just one bad day. That’s pretty much the story for regular guy Nick, whose day begins with getting fired from his job, and ends with chancing upon the aftermath of a bank heist. Almost without thinking he finds himself holding a gun, and using it. Before long he’s breaking into the apartment of a down-on-his-luck ex-con, and suddenly everything in his life is different.

A brilliantly simple concept makes for a compelling story here, and it’s hard to tell who the heroes, and the villains really are. Adam Cogan writes it and Ryan Cody draws it in a style very similar to Michael Avon Oeming.

— Andy Richardson

From the Comics Buyer’s Guide:

The title says it all. This is a book about villains—two villains in particular: one old and one just getting his feet wet in the big-dog world of villainy.

It’s a told-before tale about the young guy with a streak of evil in him who stumbles into the path of an old or retired villain. The trick is avoiding the clichés that go along with it. For the most part, this title succeeds, though some of the plot makes it seem as though the story could be leaning toward other clichés… so the next few issues will be interesting to keep an eye on.

The writing in the main story and the backup is well done. The art, however, isn’t as consistent. The first story is strong in this respect, though the backup one by comparison leaves something to be desired, artwise. Nonetheless, with Villains, Viper Comics has put out an enjoyable issue with lots of potential that should appeal to crime and action comics fans.

— Ray Sidman

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