Extinct TPB is Jam-Packed With Texas-Sized Werewolf Thrills!

Earlier this year, I was fortunate enough to strike up a correspondence with comic creator Fabian Rangel Jr. and had the chance to interview him and review the debut installment of his fabulous comic series Extinct, from upstart indie publisher 215 Ink, here on Comic Booked.  Extinct is an awesome, thrill-ride of a story that should not be missed.  If however, you were not fortunate enough to pick this title up in single issues, fear not; all six issues have been collected into a handsome TBP that can now be ordered at your LCS by using the Diamond order code NOV11 1105.  After sitting down and enjoying the series in its entirety, I can highly recommend that people do in fact, order Extinct!

Extinct is the tale of a boy in a sleepy Texas town, that seems to be having a tough time finding happiness in the cruel world of high school.  Jimmy Reynolds is mercilessly picked on by the jocks, as he secretly crushes on young lady named Lauren Finch who is actually dating one of the troglodytes.  Luckily Jimmy has a friend named Nick Evans in his corner, and a sharp mind to boot.  Little does Jimmy realize that the troubles of high school will soon take a backseat, as Spring Valley is about to be overrun with werewolves.  Just what role does our young protagonist play in all of this, and will he get any surprise help?  I am not going to go deep into the plot here, as I want you all to have the joy of reading Extinct and experiencing it for yourselves – spoiler free.  Let me just say that all of the characters are tied together in a way that make the events in Extinct almost inevitable, all leading up to a thrilling battle royale.

Suffice to say that series creator Fabian Rangel Jr. set out to craft an adventurous tale, reminiscent of the 80’s movies he loved as a kid, and has wholly succeeded in recreating that feeling here in Extinct.  The characters in this story come together as a group in the face of overwhelming adversity, much in the way that characters in films like The Lost Boys or Gremlins did.  The pacing in Extinct is very well done, and the fast-paced action makes this series go buy quickly. Time and care is also taken to craft characters that the reader has genuine empathy for – not cardboard cutout cannon fodder.  I have previously praised how Mr. Rangel is able to tap into the teenage feelings of angst and alienation, in order to write characters of this age in a convincing manner.  This ability is on full display here in Extinct.  Even the werewolves in this story have drive and motivations that are revealed later through their back story.  Perhaps the most important aspect of the writing is that this story is just fun to read.  I sat down after watching the dismal evening news, and within two pages had forgotten about all of the political and economic unrest in the world.  The story contained in this TPB is complete and very satisfying.  Extinct is a thrilling escape that inspires the imagination, and is everything that a comic should be!

Since comics have a symbiotic relationship between story and visual presentation, let us not forget the wonderful art to be found in this series.  Jethro Morales has illustrated Extinct in a beautiful manner that makes every page feel fresh and new.  The art of Mr. Morales uses interesting perspectives, unique panel presentation, splash, and negative space to great effect.  There is violence and some dismemberment in this series, but it is never portrayed in a way only intended to be gory and shocking.  For this reason, I would recommend Extinct to adults and teens alike.  I especially love how Mr. Morales illustrates the werewolves of Extinct, and would bet money that he genuinely loves drawing them. 

Overall, I am very impressed with Extinct!   All of the creators, as well as 215 Ink, should be very proud about putting out such an amazing series.  Please, reward these efforts by supporting indie creators and publishers, and order this book [Diamond order code NOV11 1105] or online by clicking right here!  Keep the comic dream alive, and keep your eyes peeled for future projects from Mr. Rangel, Mr. Morales, and the crew at 215 Ink.