rubyn warren ii – R.J.'s FAQs of LIFE

LESSON 21: SWAG PATROL #3

FINALLY, a normal interaction of a very understandable way for that scene to play out!

Hey and Welcome to the next Lesson.

SWAG PATROL. (#3)

This is by far my favorite issue of Swag Patrol.

From the jump we’re given our establishing panel and it just reminds of something I’d see at my boy’s spot. Like, it’s a dope setup, big speakers…but it doesn’t look official, official? Not commercial good, but good enough. I love this panel.

So, the Swag Patrol, after their most recent loss, regroups and wind up getting into it with one another. And this is where things get interesting. Minor spoilers, but here we go:

She gets telekinesis. Mya is growing! Alright, so, last time, I did say that Mya having her moment of insecurity, even in active duty was what stood out most to me.

Normally, you’d have someone like Spider-Man or Deadpool cracking jokes in those moments, possibly to hide their problems, but Mya wears her heart on her sleeve.

Now, she isn’t 100% like Invisible Woman, meaning she can’t go invisible, but the more she grows, the more troubles and moments stay on her mind. And Dr. Tre, (name is still dope) doesn’t flip on her, he just helps her out by being a friend in her time of need.

Yeah, he does say the need to run tests on her, but that’s no different than a loved one telling you to go to the doctor and, for once, we have a character who doesn’t freak out or get MAD when someone just wants to help!

FINALLY, a normal interaction of a very understandable way for that scene to play out! No contrived drama, just an honest interaction.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED – SPEECH BUBBLES WHITED OUT TO AVOID SPOILERS

Not only Mya, but Chris, as an outsider to the family/living situation, he gets more time spent on him, too. As someone who was raised by both his grandma and aunty(ies), it hit home. High school was a shift in my life and, maybe it’s hittin’ home for me, but I just…felt this, you know?

This issue makes action take a backseat and lets the reader get to know the central characters beyond their powers, lingo and quips. We get a chance to really get to know our characters and give them a little more depth.

And FAM!

The way this ends?

LEMME TELL YOU SOMETHING!

…nah, you gotta buy this hit, fam.

If YOU would like to support and read more of his work, you can find his #0 issue on: https://swagpatrolcomic.webs.com/downloads and issues #1 & #2 on
https://peepgamecomix.com/?s=swag+patrol&post_type=product , Official twitter @rubyncomedy & their Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SwagPatrolComic/

And, hey, a real special thank you to the man himself, Rubyn Warren II for allowing me to read and review his work I was happy to pay for it as well. Keep doing your thing. Your resumé is already stacked, so you got nowhere to go but up!

Much love, brother.

Well, that’s all for now. So, until Joker and Harley Quinn step their name game up, or Dr. Tre gets a white intern with the initials W.W., I’ll see you for the next lesson.

Until then, class dismissed!

LESSON 20: SWAG PATROL #2

Hey and Welcome to the next Lesson.

SWAG PATROL. (#2)

Look, fam, from the jump this issue takes it up a notch –

Getting right into it, this issue picks up seconds after the first with the team making a daring escape. To not spoil it, I’ll give a general overview with my insight.

The thing about reading a bunch of comics is you tend to pick up on story beats and even start to predict how some issues would go. The teen superhero story is kind of predictable these days, but, thankfully, I was wrong on some of my theories.

Instead of fighting with their mentor about the safety of fighting, he reprimands them the same way one would a younger sibling. Protective but not outright bashing. When they go home late for curfew, there’s no tragic backstory about a dead relative explaining why the parent is so angry. She’s just mad they’re out after dark. (Been there. Done that. Never again, Mom’s Belt Fu is too strong)

Issue 2 continues with teens dealing with insecurities and a threat that proves a much bigger threat than the previous. Unlike last time, Mr. Flexx is given his moment before his turn and allows us to get to know him as a character, not just a villain.

This issue continues on that same stride it hit in its debut and doesn’t let up. The story is still solid for a younger-audience-aimed book and the art just keeps kicking up.

What I like the most are the campy moments clearly meant to be taken as campy superhero moments, especially in comedy.

Like here, I’m reminded of Spider-Man (2002).

And with his moment, campy, but hella good enough to roll with.

ALSO, BEFORE I FORGET, the fact that a teenage superhero has self-esteem issues isn’t exactly new but the symmetry between her insecurities and her superpowers being similar to those of the Invisible Woman, her being seen plays a subtle, poignant subplot.

What strikes me most about Mr. Flexx is that he’s a clear homage to Mr. Fantastic, but, evil like The Maker of Marvel’s Ultimate line of comics aka Earth-1610. While not on the level of complexity of the Maker, you do see the parallels.

Issue 2, at the very least, meets the initial issue in all things that made it a joy to read, but with the debut of Mr. Flexx, has more room to stretch its legs going forward.

Well, that’s all for now. So, until we see K-Swag race Dash from the Incredibles, or Killmonger comes back for Black Panther 2, I’ll see you for the next lesson.

Until then, class dismissed!

LESSON 19: SWAG PATROL – SWAGTASTIC 4

Not only that, but some panels look like straight homages to Fant4stic, except, y’know, with COLOR.

It’s almost like it’s a tongue-in-cheek kind of way to say, YO! THIS IS HOW YOU DO THIS, FAM!

Hey and Welcome to the next Lesson.

Look, if y’all thought the latest Fantastic 4, “Fant4stic”, wasn’t good [seriously, how you gon’ do Michael B. Jordan like that] and you didn’t think Incredibles 2 lived up to the original, [because the original is Top 5 Superhero movies of all time status] let me introduce y’all to how it’s supposed to be done.

SWAG PATROL. (#1)

Swag Patrol was created and written by Rubyn Warren II & Gabe Smith and drawn by both Gabe Smith and Mark Marvida (who also did colors). Lastly, we have Jeffery “Chamba” Cruz for the cover and Vince White for the letters.

Man, listen, if I had a Swag Patrol, in high school, I mighta had a prom date. #CALLMEBACKLANA This book from jump is something we’re not not-used to, but is spun in a way that is fun and easy enough when other installments COUGH COUGH have tried too hard.

This one just works.

We start out by being introduced to our three heroes: Rashad Carter [K-Swag] with the ability of Pyrokinesis, Mya Carter, his younger sister, [Mindset] with the ability to make forcefields…(wait for it) and their cousin, Chris Lowery [Blaze] who can make concussive energy blasts.

Now, when I first say Blaze, I thought dude had the same powers as K-Swag, but after second thought, it’s more like Bakugou’s power compared to Todoroki’s from My Hero Academia. If you don’t know what that is, I’m not sorry. Do yourself a favor and watch.

BACK TO THIS!

Immediately, you’re given similarities to Fantastic Four with two of our protagonists having identical powers to two of theirs. What I like about this though, is it seems to play right into your expectations and flips it a little bit.

While Johnny Storm “flames on” and turns his whole body into plasma flames, K-Swag, exerts parts of his body to be fire-boosted. When he does this, he can even increase his speed, ala Mario Kart. It’s a small detail but one I always wondered by Johnny never took.

K-Swag become a legit speedster and leaves fire in his wake. While Flash does his with lightning and Superman and Quicksilver just kind of leave trails, the fire bit is DEFINITELY the best.

Not only that, but some panels look like straight homages to Fant4stic, except, y’know, with COLOR. It’s almost like it’s a tongue-in-cheek kind of way to say, YO! THIS IS HOW YOU DO THIS, FAM!

To top it off, what I found the funniest part about this issue was we’re given our doctor/mentor role, Dr. Tre – first off, Dr. Tre. Every time I read that, I hear Eminem on the hook of “Forgot about Dre” and I can’t help but laugh every time. Back on point, he’s the scientist help these kids develop their powers in a safe environment, and when you see his notes, you get THIS little nugget.

Sometimes, especially in personal notes, you don’t have to be proper. That was just dope to me. That said, Dr. Tre doesn’t seem to be the overbearing type of mentor. In fact, he seems pretty cool about everything. He’s teaching them and, though they may not be “street ready” so to say, he’s not a dick about it.

Dude just wants to look out for them and I’m all for it.

And I’m not gonna spoil it here (#SupportBlackBusiness), but when they get to it? That final call to action!!? That spread shot is easily one of my favorites in the issue.

I think what is done best about this title is that it’s not serious. Though it is taken seriously, the craft, art and font usage (that I can’t pinpoint so kudos to you for being original, Mr. Warren II) are all done with love and care. You don’t have think or worry characters are caricatures, it isn’t overly grim or trying to take itself too seriously.

Something along the lines of, say, one of my favorite Superhero films, Superman, you get your moments of heroism with campy humor that does have its stakes, but still allows you to enjoy your time and not stress too much about the tone.

The journey, not the destination.

Swag Patrol is a title I can’t recommend enough for those who are interested in a family-dynamic story that doesn’t come off as pandering, but isn’t too, too grim, either. The characters don’t refer to each other as “bro” or “sis”, because NOBODY DOES, and they have suits that look akin to a Batman title which is DEFINITELY a compliment.

(I got a soft spot for Batman & Robin suits, sue me!)

Also, since I’m on the topic of art, there’s a panel, one specific panel that I swore was Leinil Yu’s work. MAJOR kudos to the penciller who pulled that off.

Well, that’s all for now. So, until they arrest Soulja Boy for turning his swag off, or FANTASTIC FOUR FINALLY GETS THEIR SHIT TOGETHER (LOL), I’ll see you for the next lesson.

Until then, class dismissed!