Writer: Ray Fawkes

Artist: Marco Failla

Colorist: Stefani Rennee

AfterShock Comics is quickly rising up the ranks as a quality publisher that is attracting a stable of excellent creators and artists. This week I had the opportunity to take a look at their newest title from creator Ray Fawkes, Jackpot #1.

Everyone loves a good con man story. “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels”, “The Grifters”, “Catch Me If You Can”, all share a plan, the players, the hiccups, and the score. Jackpot #1 is set up in the same classic vein.

**Spoilers Ahead**

Poker is the quintessential con game. Since the days of the Wild West people have counted cards, had aces up their sleeves and ringers in a game to shift the betting to your favor. Times have changed, but the game remains the same. Eduardo is a two bit gangster hosting a high stake poker game on his yacht in International waters. Malawi is a high stakes player in the game, battling Eduardo card for card but he is at a disadvantage. As I said, times have changed, instead of counting cards, Eduardo has cameras, sensors, a deck that is light an ace, and a crooked dealer. But like any good con, you have to spend money to make money. The game is a distraction to take the contents of Eduardo’s vault. Felicia is the crew’s “cold reader” and extracts the jewels and bonds from the safe. Forrest is “the heater”, who has pirated one of the security vessels as a get away boat. Felicia is successful and about to make her move when an explosion rocks the yacht and propels her into the sea. The card game is interrupted but Eduardo senses a trick, holding Malawi at bay with his gun. Malawi’s girlfriend Dominique, who was pretending to be drunk, springs into action to arm herself and Malawi with the weapons from the now unarmed guns. She is “the genius” of the group. Little does Eduardo know but the “dirty dealer” Josef is in on the con as well. The crew escapes with the jewels and bonds to sell on the black market. The score worked but the explosion on the yacht wasn’t the act of either side, but that of a mysterious third party that is monitoring the con crew and has decided that Dominique is the one they want for their own future plans.

Ray Fawkes brings the action fast and furious to Jackpot #1, deftly introducing the players while setting up a great jumping off point for a story-line while laying the groundwork for future issues with the mystery council. He is an award winning and nominated creator of such titles as One Soul, The People Inside, and his Possessions series and it is obvious to see why he has garnered such acclaim. Marco Failla and Stefani Rennee are excellent artist, known for their work for DC Comics among others and they bring an almost frantic style to the pilot issue, with dramatic lines and blasts of color. It is all in all a solid premiere and another interesting title for AfterShock.

4 aces out of 5