Hannah's Words: ARC REVIEW Overwatch Anthology Vol 1

Overwatch Anthology vol 1
Dark Horse Publishing
Blizzard Entertainment

Scripts by: Robert Brooks, Matt Burns, Andrew Robinson, Micky Neilson, Michael Chu, James Waugh

Art by: Bengal, Nesskain, Gray Shuko, Jeffrey “Chamba” Cruz, Miki Montlló, Joe Ng, Espen Grundetjern (colorist)

Lettering: Richard Starkings and Comicraft's John Rushell, Jimmy Betancourt and Albert Deschesne

McCree – Train Hopper

Script: Robert Brooks

Art: Bengal

Jesse McCree is hitching a ride on the express train when Opción Dos starts to hijack the train. Against his better judgment because he knows he’s just going to get blamed for it stops the hijacking.

McCree's story was a good one, he completely deserves his reputation even if he is trying to move on from the past. He's more of the unsung hero. I really enjoyed Bengal's art. His style of the manga/anime in the digital spectrum fits in great with what Blizzard has for this game.

Reinhardt – Dragonslayer

Script: Matt Burns

Art: Nesskain

As Reinhardt and Brigitte are traveling they come a small village that is practically being held hostage by a ruthless gang demanding protection money. Reinhardt ever the hero decides he can save them.

Of course Reinhardt is going to stick up for the little people, it would be going against his nature to do. It's an exciting story and well written and put together. I loved the his speech while he was putting on the armor. Nesskain's art is beautiful I love all the clean lines and detail.

Junkrat & Roadhog – Going Legit

Script: Robert Brooks

Art: Gray Shuko

Junkrat and Roadhog attempt to go legit when a business man offers them a job. Take out the bad guys and save the hostages, discreetly. But in the typical Junkrat fashion it all gets blown to hell, literally. It’s not the clean cut job they were hoping for but it’s exactly what the business man was hoping would happen.

This was hysterical. Junkrat's almost non-stop commentary and completely obliviousness of their actions it's no wonder they are the comic relief of the game. Gray Shuko has done artwork for Blizzard so it's no wonder he does such a spot on job for their comic.

Symmertra – A Better World

Script: Andrew Robinson

Art: Jeffery “Chamba” Cruz

Symmetra is working with the Vishkar Corporation which has a bid in Rio. They lose the bid to a local contractor but also a known slum lord. Symmetra is then charged with the task of digging up dirt on the man, only she can’t find any. Symmetra starts thinking of another way to get him out when everything goes wrong. Even though they tell her it’s for the better Symmetra is having doubts.

This story was just kinda there for me, it was good but seemed like it needed more. The art reminded me of Big Hero 6, not that it was bad I liked it, it's just in that style.

Pharah - Mission Statement

Script: Andrew Robinson

Art: Nesskain

Pharah and her team take on an Anubis A.I. that has broken and has been corrupting every nearby electronic. With her team dying around her Pharah is faced with the moral question of Team before mission or mission before the team?

I really liked this one. Action packed emotional, some great backstory, and more awesome art from Nesskain.

Torbjörn – Destroyer

Script: Micky Neilson

Art: Gray Shuko

Torbörn heads to Boklovo to stop a rampaging Titan class Omnic. Originally built to build the one has been retrofitted to destroy instead. Torbjörn was one for the original designers and was the obvious choice to stop this one. Once inside he faces an old acquaintance.

It doesn't give a whole lot of backstory onTorbörn but it gives enough to know what kind of a character he is. With more spot on art by Gray Shuko.

Ana – Legacy

Script: Andrew Robinson

Art: Bengal

Ana and her team are moving a group of scientist before the evil Talon gets them. But the enemy is ready for them with snipers of their own. To Ana her team mates are her family and the enemy snipers are killing her family Ana moves quickly to eliminate them first. But the last one Ana makes a mistake she hesitates and it costs her everything.

Another one I really liked.

Ana – Old Soldiers

Script: Michael Chu

Art: Bengal

This takes place sometime after Legacy. Soldier 76 is on the hunt for something when he comes across a wanted poster that leads him to an isolated compound. Hoping to uncover more information he instead discovers two old friends that may or not be on his side any more.

Yep loved this one too. Putting all the pieces together of the who's who and what happened.

Junkenstien – Halloween Special

Plot: Michael Chu

Script: Matt Burns

Art: Gray Shuko

A Halloween party for the Overwatch group. McCree has just wrapped up a scary story when Rein says he has an even scarier story. It’s about a righteous ruler and a mad scientist trying to raise the dead, and deals being made with the wrong kind of people.

A fun little comic that is perfect for Halloween season.

Reflections – Holiday Special

Script: Michael Chu

Art: Miki Montlló

Tracer is rushing to the store to get her Emily a Christmas gift but get distracted by a mugging and misses the store by seconds, lucky the family she rescued comes to her rescue by giving her a gift. Meanwhile Winston is left waiting for Emily and Tracer and wondering what everyone else is up to.

A nice pensive story about what the character of Overwatch do around the holidays. Miki Montlló art looks like it should be a cartoon, I love it. I can almost see the characters moving.

Binary

Script: Matt Burns and James Waugh

Art: Joe Ng

Color: Espen Grundetjern

In what starts like the movie Jaws, Torbjörn goes hunting a rogue Bastion in a remote Swedish town. But once he finds the Bastion he quickly realizes something is wrong with it. Torbjörn now must rescue the peaceful Bastion from the panicked villagers.

If Quint had sided with the giant shark instead, I imagine something like this. It was a fun short story of how Torbjörn found Bastion. Joe Ng and Espen Grundetjern did a wonderful job on the art.

Uprising

Script: Michael Chu

Art: Gray Shuko

London, England. The Onmic are rebelling and the entire city is a war zone. McCree, against orders, is already there assessing the situation. Meanwhile the Prime Minister does not want Overwatch involved. Soldier debates whether to send in a team or not. Only after a conversation with Tracer does he know the answer to that question, he sends in Tracer, Mercy, Rein, and Torb.

Corresponding with the Uprising season it's a nice little insight to what when on.

Overall, full disclosure, I don't play the game but my hubby does so most of the day that's all I hear about. If I have a question I just ask him, he loves it it gives us something to talk about together instead of him talking about OW while I talk about books. I love storylines and well Overwatch really doesn't have one but when you get to the back stories and the webcomics that's the story I crave. I loved learning more about the characters and enjoying the fantastic art. Blizzard is pretty good about doing side and back stories to go with their games, when I got back into computer games it was because Diablo 2. I'm not much for online competition, I hate playing against other people. But as graphic novels go and being part of the Overwatch franchise this is a great item for any heroes collection.

Also coming out in a couple days...