Welcome to an all new edition of Parlay Points, the complementary blog to the ODPH podcast. On this edition, we’re checking out Red Tag #1 by Rafael Scavone, Rafael Albuquerque and Roger Cruz for Stout Club Entertainment and Comixology Originals. If you haven’t been checking out the books over at Comixology Unlimited, make a point to sign up ASAP. They have some of the best books out right now. This one is no exception. Let’s check out what this creative team is bringing, shall we?
Red Tag #1 - On Sale March 2nd
Creative: Rafael Scavone, Rafael Albuquerque and Roger Cruz
Art Credit: Roger Cruz & Rafael Albuquerque (Stout Club Entertainment and Comixology Originals).
*** POTENTIAL SPOILER WARNING ***
The story centers around three friends: Lis (aka Lisa), Lu (aka Luciana) and Leco (aka Leandro) on the streets of São Paulo. These friends also share a passion for “pixo” (also known as pichação or pixação which is a style of tagging), which i showed later in the issue. After a flashback to 1984, The issue starts out with a man named Noronha gets red spray paint in his face and eyes by two figures on a motorcycle. His cell phone was taken in the process. However, this was no random robbery. The pair takes the cell phone in a noble cause to fix a wrong. In a city where good people are being unfarily treated, these three have decided to stand up and do something about it.
As is the case, no good deeds ever goes unpunished. The contents on the cell phone in question opens a world of trouble for these three with strong political implications for São Paulo. With highly dangerous information on that phone, certain people want to make sure it’s recovered and dealt with.
Very solid debut issue. Scavone & Albuquerque craft a strong story with good people fighting back against the morally corrupt. The three main characters, esp Lis and how she’s reacting to the reason behind the phone robbery brings that point to the forefront. Even with all this corruption around them, they find a way to still get their message out via the tagging. How this is all going to play out now that the phone has been exposed will be a fun story for readers to check out.
Let’s talk about the art for this issue. Cruz (along with CRIS PETER & BERNARDO BRICE) brings this story to life in a way few others could. Depicting the corrupt figures to showcasing the tagging scenes really adds elements to this book. Readers get the sense of why these three (especially Lis who’s the standout character in this book right now) care so much about fighting back. This book has a unique style to it which I very much enjoyed & know other readers will too. Absolutely enjoyed the cliffhanger ending as well.
Overall, Red Tag #1 is a great issue to check out. The creative team knock it out of the park with a slow build to a bigger conspiracy going on while having amazing visuals depicting the fight for good while surrounded by evil elements. If you haven’t signed up for Comixology Unlimited yet, I strongly recommend it and let this book be your introduction to this line of comics!
Hit me up on Twitter & let me know what you thought of Red Tag #1. As always, thanks for reading!