FOX AND HARE #1: No More Children Crying In The Rain

Slick. That’s the word that springs to mind when reading FOX AND HARE #1. Everything flows smoothly, like water, from script to the art. Welcome to the technologically advanced Mazu Bay where two orphans Keeta and Keeza, who’s parents went missing, have grown up into fierce mercenaries to save children from the same fate at the hands of the nefarious Synestry Design Labs. A rescue mission at a lab turns into something far more deadly for the two as they come across hacker Aurora Yi and an incredible secret regarding the research Synestry is doing and that’s when the trouble begins…

There’s a wonderful feeling of a genuine Asian identity to this opener which is borne out through every aspect of the production from the language (I had no idea about the use of the word lah had and its multiple meanings and now I’ve learnt something and that’s awesome) in the script to the look and feel of the characters in the art with strong and subtle emotions conveyed through really well rendered racial expressions. It’s a first issue with very clear direction, Tsuei’s script sets the scene smoothly and Lee’s art is so wonderfully clean and perfectly complimented by Angulo’s strong, shaded colors.  The issue makes you feel  the loss and connection with the main characters while the dialogue is modern and fresh and not without humor. There’s a deliberate feel to every choice like having the Tiger masked assistant to the sinister Prime Minister be named Raja and as an opener it has all the ingredients that make for a very strong start to the series as the team don’t show their whole hand but balance this introduction well between set up and some marvelous action bits.

There’s fancy tech, cool looking bad guys, slick action and tongue in cheek humor. Solid lettering by Jim Campbell and a gloriously neon colored main cover by series artist Stacey Lee round out a very strong and well crafted first issue from all involved.