As one third of the Awesome Comics Podcast team, Vince Hunt has become a champion for small press creators everywhere. But with the release of the third issue of his own small press series The Red Mask From Mars he is back in the role of creator, complete with alien facemarks and evil spacesharks. So will this new issue be as awesome as his podcast or will it leave him with his own red mask of shame?

Publisher: Raw Edge Comics
Writer: Vince Hunt
Artist: Vince Hunt, Shaun Dobie (Colorist)
Price: TBC* (Will be launched at Bristol Comics Expo)

Our rating: [star rating=”4″]

Red Mask from Mars #3 continues the high action pace of the first two issues as Red Team continues to fight of the giant armoured alien spacesharks while simultaneously rescuing team member George, who is trapped behind a force field with a giant alien egg. However, the danger ramps up when the Spacesharks return to their artifact and bring about its activation, releasing a greater evil on the world. Can the Red Mask and his team, along with a new, well armed ally, stop the Spacesharks in their tracks or will they face this greater danger?

Vince Hunt has once again written a comic which is incredibly fun and truly hilarious. The plot here isn’t overly complicated – stop the bad guys – but this book plays to its strengths by not taking itself too seriously. The key to this is the core cast, all of whom are very distinct and bounce off of each really well, once again giving off that Hellboy vibe, something alluded to with Wulf’s rather large gun (as seen on the cover). However, Red Mask himself is key as his Deadpool-like qualities keep the tone consistently light and prevent it getting too serious.

Like the writing, the artwork is stellar and does just as much to convey the tone – keeping it light and fun which manages to stop it from becoming too generic and like every other super team book out there. From it’s tremendous cover onwards, Hunt’s cartoony style is really distinctive and he lets his imagination run wild with some panels which are really over the top – such as Wulf ‘shooting’ a shark – or really ambitious – like the reveal of the big bad in both its forms in the final pages. 

Special mention should also go to colourist Shaun Dobie as not only do his sharp, vibrant colours mesh incredibly well with Hunt’s work, but they really add to the distinct look of the book. The detail he achieves, such as with the Sharks’ armour, is incredible and proof of major commitment.