The Wind Raider #1 of 3
Ape Entertainment
$3.50 cover price
Created & Written by: Richard Finney and Dean Loftis
Art by: Gabriel Hardman
Colors by: Micah Farritor
Lettering & Design by: David Hedgecock

“When you control the Wind …you control the future.”

In this post-apocalyptic world, where people known as Ki Warriors can bend the winds to their will, a young boy named Joshua finds himself in trouble with a murderous group of bandits. There are hints of a greater darkness and a rising force for good.

I am a big fan of the post-apocalyptic genre of storytelling. Sure this book offers somewhat familiar situations to viewers of The Road Warrior and other movies like that. But I have to say I really enjoyed the style of this book. A lot of the story is told in artwork reminiscent of Joe Kubert or Francesco Francavilla, done mostly in brown tones to nicely give off the effect of a harsh desert-dwelling life.

The world of The Wind Raider is a harsh and violent world but this story isn’t terribly graphic in the violence. The book is labeled as suitable for teen and up, and I would agree with that assessment and say 13 and up. This is a great change of pace from the usual capes and tights comics and has enough originality and excitement to interest young and old alike.

There are also backup pages with extensive character history and information about the world they inhabit so you can tell the creative team has worked hard to develop this story.

You can find a trailer on YouTube as well as more information about the book at the website: http://www.thewindraider.com or the publisher website at: http://apecomics.com/

This 48 page first issue hits shelves in January 2009.

- Eric Martin

Tags: ape entertainment, ape entertianment, david hedgecock, dean loftis, francesco francavilla, gabriel hardman, joe kubert, micah farritor, post-apocalyptic, richard finney, the wind raider