Review: Frosted Up #1
From Weird Brain Entertaiment
Following a successful Kickstarter campaign, the new series, Frosted Up, is coming from Weird Brain Entertainment.
FROSTED UP #1 is a full 26-page, color comic book with 26 pages of story! This is the 1st issue of a brand new comic book series meant for teen readers with some mature themes and features the first appearance of Crystal Caldwell and Nicholas the Snowman!
Crystal Caldwell is a mother and a dancer who loves to party and is a bit reckless. But when one of the people she attracts to the chaos of her world kidnaps her daughter, Holly, Crystal does the only thing she can do… what we would all do. She magically brings a snowman named Nicholas to life and, violently—and possibly with a smidge of psychosis—hunts down those who would try to hurt someone she loves.
Looking for a good time? Look no further, when red snow piles so high that not even a plow will be able to keep these pages clean.
What do you get when you mix the movie Taken with Frosty the Snowman and sprinkle on top a little Harley Quinn? Something with a dash of crazy, a tad chaotic, and a whole lot of snow-covered, blood-drenched wintry cheer!
Following up from the absurdness of SVEN THE GROUNDHOG #1 & 2, HELL OF A JOB #1 & 2 and ANTI-CHRISTINE AND THE FOUR UNICORNS OF THE APOCALYPSE #1 comes the first issue of Frosted Up, from the weird mind of Dave Franchini (Zenescope Entertainment’s Belle: Beast Hunter, Cinderella: Serial Killer Princess, & Grimm Fairy Tales), this is the next issue launching from publisher, WEIRD BRAIN ENTERTAINMENT!
Drawn by the incredibly talented Salvatore Cuffari (Artist on series Cinderella: Serial Killer Princess--among many others!) and colored by the equally amazing Juan Manuel Rodriguez(Belle: Beast Hunter, Cinderella and Robyn Hood for Zenescope Entertainment & Youngblood for Image Comics), with letters and logo design by the amazing Taylor Esposito of Ghost Glyph Studios(Flash Gordon, Space Ghost, Red Hood and Harley Quinn TAS)--This wildly violent, unapologetic dark comedy unleashes a chaotic descent into snowy, blood-streaked mayhem.
This is a promising opening issue, doing exactly what a first chapter should—laying the groundwork while giving readers enough tension and intrigue to stay invested.
Crystal is immediately established as a flawed and very human protagonist. Her questionable taste in men isn’t just mentioned in passing; it actively drives the plot forward. The decision to leave yet another bad relationship feels like a step in the right direction for her, but it quickly spirals into something far more dangerous. The mix-up with the bag is a simple but effective catalyst, and it’s handled in a way that feels believable rather than forced.
That mistake carries real weight because of who the bag belongs to. The local gang boss is introduced not through exposition, but through the consequences of crossing him. There’s no illusion that this will be resolved calmly—his presence looms heavily over the issue, and the threat he poses is clear without needing excessive explanation.
One of the strongest aspects of the issue is how the tension builds. The escalation is gradual and methodical, as the gang traces the bag step by step. Each stage feels deliberate, showing how efficiently and ruthlessly they operate. By the time the trail leads to Crystal at her workplace and then to her daughter, the stakes have risen significantly. It’s not just about a misplaced item anymore—it’s personal, and the danger feels immediate.
The ending of the issue does a great job of shifting the narrative from setup to anticipation. With her daughter now directly in harm’s way, the story naturally pivots toward what Crystal is going to do next—and, more intriguingly, who or what kind of help she’s going to rely on. That tease is handled well, giving just enough to hook the reader without revealing too much too soon.
Visually, the artwork complements the story's tone nicely. There’s a strong contrast between the harsh, gritty elements of the criminal underworld and the stark, almost oppressive presence of the snow. The cold, white backdrop adds an extra layer of atmosphere, reinforcing both the isolation and the tension running through the narrative.
Overall, this is a confident and engaging start. It introduces its characters effectively, establishes a clear threat, and sets the stage for what appears to be a tense, character-driven story.