ADVANCED REVIEW: ‘Rockstar and Softboy,’ Issue #1

Rockstar and Softboy #1 is published by Image Comics with writing and art by Sina Grace. Rockstar plays in a band. Softboy works in game development. After a chance meeting at an Abba tribute show, the two have become inseparable friends. Now, with Softboy stuck in a creative rut trying to prep for his new game’s Kickstarter, things are looking grim. Luckily for him, Rockstar has a plan. They just need to throw a killer house party so Softboy will get laid. That’ll get his inspiration back.

I love a character-driven story. When a book presents fleshed-out natural feeling characters that leave an impact, I’m generally at my happiest. However, when said character is an abrasive, loud-mouthed lead that’s only purpose seems to be the delivery of obnoxious quips and sexual innuendo, it doesn’t land quite as well. Unfortunately, Rockstar and Softboy #1 is plagued by this problem in the unfortunate character Rockstar.

Throughout the book’s 24 pages, I struggled with Rockstar’s incessant, grating dialogue. Every turn the story takes till the very end becomes another opportunity for him to disregard, downplay, or outright ignore whatever Softboy says even though everything Rockstar does is supposedly for Softboy’s sake. It certainly doesn’t feel like it is, and the book’s cookie-cutter moment where the duo hugs out their differences and makeup feels completely lacking any believability. And while this story is a comedy, and part of the humor is often people doing things that are a bit jerky, Rockstar’s negative traits are just far too persistent for my taste.

Beyond the struggles I had with one of Rockstar and Softboy #1‘s leads, the book delivers a zany story of a house party that goes out of control. Witches, zombies, and superheroes all come to the pages of this story. From the duo’s multi-century old friend, who is either a woman who turns into a cat or vice versa, to the duo’s Power Ranger-like transformation, this book demands the reader simply accept whatever wild or bizarre occurrence the story brings their way.

The other aspect of note in Rockstar and Softboy #1 is the nature of its humor. This book utilizes a lot of sexual humor throughout its story. And while the humor never gets particularly raunchy, it is worth knowing that the book has a focus on the bedroom where its humor is concerned, in case that’s a deal-breaker for you.

The art in this book delivers the story clearly and brings the zany tone of the narrative to life well. This artistic approach is further enhanced through the simple but effective color work. Plenty of bright colors helps to reinforce the story’s mood.

Wrapping up our look at this story is the lettering. The lettering does a solid job of delivering the story in an easy-to-follow manner.

So, when all is said and done, Rockstar and Softboy #1 strive to deliver a zany misadventure about a house party gone wrong that is unfortunately stifled by an obnoxious main character that ruined every scene he’s in, which is all of them.

Rockstar and Softboy #1 is available February 23rd wherever comics are sold.