It's REDempt1on Time! REDempt1on is a new comic book straight from the mind of our Original Red Power Ranger (Jason Lee Scott) and Hero, Austin St. John.

 

For those who may not know, Austin's father served in the Marines. His connection to the service, however, does not end there. Some time after leaving our television screens and his Red suit behind, he went on to serve as a Fire Fighter and continued to help others as a Paramedic in the Middle East.

 

Today, you can find him meeting his fans at some Con, or actively helping others. With all on his plate, family included, he managed to put this intriguing comic together for us. Collaborating with Charter Comics and people like McLain McGuire, DJ Hall, Elisa Delgado, Alan Quah, and more, to bring us this INCREDIBLE first issue of REDempt1on.

 

The comic book comes in four different covers. I got to see three myself and had difficulties deciding which of those amazing covers to pick. I ended up getting two different ones. Regardless of choice, I think all the art work on the covers were exquisitely done. My compliments to the artist.

 

Continuing beyond the attention-getter that is the cover, I must say that I was slightly disappointed at the lack of color, at first. As I read the comic book, I began to understand the choice of color. That color set the proper tone for a story that begins its journey in the Middle East and has a dark tone to it. I was pleased to see a splash of color as I continued this great story. In the end, I changed my opinion about the color schemes and decided they knew exactly what they were doing. I would not change a thing with that. As far as the actual art work, graphics, or fonts...professional, clear, legible, and well thought up, if I say so myself. Just a small warning, though, if you are into the traditional "Comic Book Look" (Ben-Day Dots), you may find its absence a bit of a downer.

 

Moving on to the story. First, I want to discuss the vocabulary used in this comic. While, for some, it may be familiar and, perhaps, nostalgic speech, it may leave others confused and questioning the dialog. As a military Veteran, I understood the wording used quite well. If you are familiar with the type of speech, you will have no problem; otherwise, I encourage you to learn a little just before diving into this comic; though, it may not be necessary to know every word, I believe it adds to the story to know the lingo. There is an element of realism and authenticity that can be experienced if you have that extra knowledge.

 

As a person that detests spoilers, I do not wish to give out much info about the story itself. This much I will say: It is a story about surviving. I will not say what.

 

Personally, I felt it started a hint on the slow side. Nonetheless, once the action starts, you will not regret the wait. I found myself in wonder of its mysteries yet to unfold. When you are fully immersed in the story, you become excited and impatient, not just to turn the page, but for the next Issue. There were moments that I was at the edge of my seat and my heart was in suspense. This particular Issue left me gasping for air, jaw dropped, and jumping for joy with its last words. The final line, "To be continued...", was probably the one thing that I hated and that, truly, enraged me. I do not want to wait for more.

 

I think this Issue is the start of a long and glorious Comic Book Series that will continue to amaze us, inspire us, and surprise us all. Meanwhile, it will leave us in the midst of our curiosity and imagination. Where will Austin take us next? I do not know where I will find the patience to wait for the next Issue. REDempt1on is a must read/must have, and not just for Power Ranger Fans, but for anyone looking to be taken on an awesome adventure down the creative mind of Austin St. John and the many others who have put their hard work and dedication to bring this masterpiece to life. Go ahead, get hooked! If you DaRE!

 

-The Rebel Bee by Nena's Treasures a.k.a. CKrazy