Review: Lead City #1

From Red 5 Comics this week is a new series - welcome to Lead City #1.

It's 1873 when a blizzard strands Homesteader Colman Cooper and his family in a small town.  He soon learns the town plays host to an annual contest that attracts thieves and killers from far and wide. With no way out Colman finds himself pitted against seven deadly fighters in the anything goes, tooth-and-nail battle for survival known as Lead City. Before Deadwood. Before Tombstone. Before Durango. There was Lead City.

Borden and Brummond

Into the old west with a new four-issue mini-series from Red 5 Comics.

As a first issue, this sets things up very nicely for the rest of the story. We get to meet many of the main characters, although we haven't seen all of their reasons and backstories yet.

Colman Cooper is on his way with his family to get a better life. Snow and illness block his way though and it seems he has stumbled onto a possible bigger prize - one he may pay for with his life.

This prize is something that will see his son and wife in the new world, but it involves a gunfight in the deserted town of Lead City.

The build-up to this is very good, showing the trials and tribulations of the journey and what Colman has to do to get there. His decision to join this crazy fight is sudden and interesting, but he sees that needs must. As the competition is being announced, we get a look at the other competitors. We only get one of their backstories, but the cast is pretty full, and there is time to learn more about them.

I enjoyed the art style here. Cartoony in a way, but still showing the hardness of the journey and the towns that they live in. There are some excellent moments, with some good scenes - especially in the bar, although the final scenes as he is on his knees by his ill wife is especially well done.

It seems the main action will be starting in the next issue, so that will be interesting.