Wow!   The first few pages of this book read like a new Robert Rodriguez grind house tale! Written and drawn by Amancay Nahuelpan, it’s best read on a hot afternoon with the El Mariachi soundtrack playing in the background.

Clandestino tells a story of the country of Tairona in South America. A military coup has occurred and the president was brutally killed in a bombing. Nahuelpan opens this book telling how Clandestino, barely escaped with his life after his mother is killed by the military taking power. He falls unconscious in the desert and is rescued by rebel forces hoping to topple the new dictatorship.

What I liked about this book is that Nahuelpan gives a good back story and even though it’s well trod, it’s not something that you see often in comics. Again to the earlier references, his writing and his art gives it a grindhouse feel and as I read Clandestino’s parts, I couldn’t help but hear Danny Trejo’s voice in my head.   I really loved the gritty artwork and the fact that even when you think you are seeing Clandestino full on, you never really see all of him as if he is in a partial shadow.

Clandestino is meant to be a rough and tough man, not to be messed with even with the opening having him taking out a gang in a gas station. He is not one to be trifled with. Then of course when the military dictatorship takes his girl Leena, you know there will be hell to pay and the collect is….CLANDESTINO!

Few creators are adept at covering both the writing and art on their books and I can say that Amancay Nahuelpan did a good job. The faux newspaper prints, the symbolism throughout, even a wink and nod to Che’ (check out Clandestino’s rescuer) makes reader want to scream “Long Live the Revolution!”

4 out 5 Stars