Craig Reade

You know, I really love being wrong.

It never ceases to amaze me the quality of comics that come out of the small press. Sure, there is some outstanding material in the big boys, but so often I have picked up a small press book, and dreaded opening it.

Seriously – they can’t all be good, can they? Week after week lately, I have been opening comics that I have never even heard of, published by companies even more of a mystery to me than the comics themselves. And every week I find myself pleasantly surprised. This week is no different.

Last week, many of you might have noticed a 99 cent title on the shelves – Ruule, Volume 2: Kiss and Tell. I did too. I also noticed that in my stack of comics from the Wizard World West convention a few months ago, I had several issues of this title’s first volume. The 99 cent issue I kind of took as a sign, so I finally went through and read all of the ones I had not yet gotten to.

I really can’t explain what my reluctance was, but in the end, it proved completely unfounded. Ruule: Ganglords of Chinatown proved to be a seriously engaging read, and Volume 2 looks to be heading down the same path.

Cast of Characters

Volumes 1 and 2 of Ruule are actually two completely different stories- hence the separation in the character descriptions.

Volume 1

Gid is the younger son of the leader of a Chinatown street gang. The whole of San Francisco is ravaged by a biker gang from outside the city, and only the gang of Chinatown has the courage to stand against them – to a point. Gid takes up the mantle of leadership after receiving a vision from God, telling him to stand against the bikers, who worshipped the false god Baal. Gid takes dramatic steps in the Lords name, destroying a temple of Baal and sacrificing some of his father’s livestock to God. His rash action and early successes against the bikers give him a following – but he, and some close to him, soon find that even Gid might get corrupted by that kind of power.

Cue is a woman who wonders the streets with her younger sister Shaelyn, hiding from roaming bands of rapist bikers in the city. Cue proves to be able to handle herself in a fight, but one day she needs a little extra help. Gid happens to be there, and though her attitude suggests otherwise, she appreciates the help he offered. She later seeks him out once his rebellion begins, and the two become extremely close.

Purr-Bear (he hates to be called that) is an old friend of Gid who came to his aid as soon as he heard about Gid’s uprising. Purr-Bear is a mountain of a man, and very rough around the edges – he is often mistaken as a biker by those who do not know him. Along with Purr-Bear came a young boy named Jet. Jet does not speak – at least not that anyone has ever heard. Jet’s parents were tortured and killed by a group of bikers, and they made him watch as they did the same to his sister. It is clear why he chose Gid as someone to follow.

Volume 2

Sam Swede is a giant man said to have the strength of fifty. He was raised in the wilderness by an extremely devout mother who believed very much in chastity. A mob Boss, Don Daggoni, unwilling to get into a direct confrontation with such a man, makes a deal with him – the Swede would not interfere with their business if they, in return, stayed out of the East Side, which he considered to be his part of the city. One night, a group of mobsters ignored that agreement, and a very visible fight ensued.

Phyllis, the daughter of Don Rocco, became attracted to the Swede after the fight, and invited him up to her room. This, naturally, caused some tension within the mob itself, as the Don’s daughter announced her intentions with the muscular man.

Thoughts

I don’t think I have to say how much a good story is to me in a comic book – and so far, both volumes of Ruule have delivered in that department. Even written by different people – the styles are very similar, and the stories are engaging and exciting. Both stories are very structured, full of action and the occasional twist, and in both instances there is a great deal for the reader to think about.

The art has been consistent and appropriate. About the only complaint I have with the art is that sometimes, some of the male characters are hard to distinguish, but usually this is only the case with those in the background. #1 of volume 2 has a standard cover, but the second issues cover, as well as the covers for the entire first volume are simply stunning. David Mack has done some brilliant work there, and it is a real pleasure just looking at the outside of the books.

Overall, it is really tough to comment on a series like this, without giving too much away. While reading the first issue of Ganglords of Chinatown, I was admittedly a bit confused. This was not the fault of the writer – the story was started in the middle of the action, and in the end proved to be a perfect way of easing the reader into the setting. The extra pages (48 page issues, I believe) really proved to be the best format for the series, as it allowed the writer more time in each issue to really drive his points home. The first issue of Kiss and Tell is a more traditional comic format, most probably due to the price, but I am reasonably sure that Ruule will return to its ideal 48 page, prestige format with issue 2, which is due out on July 7th.

Bottom Line

This is a great read – without qualification. I highly recommend picking up a copy of the 99 cent Ruule: Kiss and Tell #1 at your local shop, and if they don’t carry it, ordering it, along with the 5 issue “Ganglords of Chinatown” from the Beckett online store. Anyone looking for a break from superheroes, tights, horror, or any sort of comic in the popular mainstream these days is an ideal reader for this series, and I can say without reservation that you will enjoy this series.

Credit Where Credit is Due –
Ruule: Ganglords of Chinatown is
Written by Ivan Brandon,
Penciled by Mike Hawthorne,
Inked by Rick Remender,
Colored by Giulia Brusco,
Lettered by Richard Starkings and Jimmy Bentancourt,
Edited by Gabrielle Benson, and
Created by Jeff Amano.

Volume 2: Kiss and Tell is
Written by Jeff Amano,
Drawn by Craig Rousseau,
Colored by Giulia Brusco, and
Edited by Gabrielle Benson.

Ruule is published by Beckett Comics.