John Rozum’s “Xombi†was first launched in 1994 and quickly became a cult-hit of sorts. However, in spite of various appearances in other comics and a solid fan base, the series was ultimately canned.
It didn’t matter that the series protagonist, Dr. David Kim, was cool in the fact that he had a nanotech virus [which he also developed] that allowed him to regenerate his tissue and sometimes “devour†whole bodies.
The fact that the virus was injected into his body to save his life after a villain tried to steal it adds another layer to already rich plot.
Simply put, Kim isn’t completely sure what the virus is completely capable of. As the series developed, you learned more about him and his nearly Immortal powers. Kim, along with the crazy cast of characters around him, had true potential. The art, by Denys Cowan [known for his work with Denny O’Neil], reaffirmed this notion.
15 years later, Rozum and his series are back, with pencils this time by Frazer Irving. Colorful in presentation, with a story that is sure to continue to develop and deepen, “Xombi†is perhaps a better series now when it was originally released. Nonetheless, at times, the story may be hard to follow, as the origin section of the tale is rather short. However, a lot goes on in issue one. Getting right into the action, Rozum wastes little time and inserts Kim into his first real adventure.
And is it ever one. Nuns with super-powers are enough to grab your attention, but the witty dialogue and wide color palette add plenty of different elements to get you hooked.
Between the fast-paced story and uber colorful panels by Irving, the series feels different from the majority of comics on the DC imprint. Because of that, those who were fans of the original series will be able to jump right into this with both feet. Those looking for something different will like Kim’s straight-ahead personality and the stylized visuals [which at times will remind you of a cel-shaded video game].
It’s unsure if history will repeat itself and cancel this series before it has an opportunity to truly strut its stuff, but from the look and feel of issue one, Rozum is ready for a fight.
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