Noble Vol. 1: God Shots Paperback – Illustrated, 24 Oct. 2017

I really enjoyed this opening volume of Noble, and was left at the end of the story wanting more.I have a real fondness for shared superhero universes, and Noble sounded like a good way to try out the Catalyst Prime milieu. That said, the story stands by itlsekf although it shares roots with the other series in this line.The premise of the conflicted hero is a solid one, and married to the art of the excellent Roger Robinson meant a winning package.The story is a journey with twists and action along the way. David Powell - Noble - is a hero trying to recover what he has lost: his memories and therefore his identity. Pursuing him is the Foresight Corporation, while other actors become involved in the fray, including David's wife and a mysterious doctor pursuing his own agenda.The volume is rounded out with the story from the 2017 Free Comic Book day issue which is great for anyone who missed out on that. I recommend this to superhero comic book fans looking for something outside the DC or Marvel offer.

I know that time shifting and flashbacking and chapter shuffling can make a story feel kinetic and edgy, but when you're starting a new series with a lot of moving pieces, a lot of characters, and a fair number of figures with similar looks, maybe a bit more linear storytelling is warranted.With that off my chest, this series certainly struck me as having potential. It's got action, conspiracies, more fight scenes that it needs, a touch of humor, a conflicted hero, a smooth villain, a huge corporate villain, as yet unbridled superpowers, and a badass wife who wants to know what the bad guys are doing with her husband. There are a few big plot holes, but none that take the fun out of the story. ("Yes, yes, let's assume a man can fly!").The drawing is pretty old school, with lots of ink, and chiseled cheek and jaw bones. Panel arrangement is interesting, though, and backgrounds have a fair amount of detail and character, which jazzes up evil-lab scenes and the like.My bottom line was that there were enough interesting characters and enough amusing or unexpected twists that this series seems very much like one to keep watching.(Please note that I had a chance to read a free ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)