Review: Thrill Kings
by Rik Ty
Star Trek has a ship.
Doctor Who has a TARDIS.
Stargate has a wormhole...
Those are all well and good methods for travelling to brave new worlds, but they are all lacking a certain something. A certain ... pizzazz ... a certain rock'n'roll quality...
If you want to go tearing into dazzling exotic vistas what you really need is, of course, a transdimensional motorcycle.
Like, duh!
These are Rik Ty's Thrill Kings: a disparate band of bikers, some human, some not, who can cross to alternate worlds on their trusty hot rods. Their mission: to guard against incursions from parallel realities. Sometimes the walls grow a little thin, allowing interlopers to break through into our world, and that spells trouble because some of these newcomers are frighteningly strange...
Issue Zero: Fitful Dreaming introduces the main characters as they sleep in their encampment, out in the desert on an Earth that is very far removed from the one we know.
'Nonstop' - a man with fire for hair (is it real? He must save a fortune on shampoo)...
'Sky Lady' - the girl who cannot stop moving and loves her cute little furry alien pets...
Krork - hulking alien with four necks (none of which are under his head), mourned by a beautiful female he has never met...
Barrage - once human, now... something else. Brooding, taciturn, strangely driven...
They are led by Dr Norel who is keen to keep their dimension-hopping tech out of the hands of any government as it could easily be used as a devastating military weapon.
Each character has a different ride, and each bike is a unique futuristic design, so this will appeal to lovers of wheels, gearheads, speed freaks and the like. They are based on 3D models and are finely crafted, which reveals the origin of Thrill Kings as a toy line with the comic created around the characters. A series of books have already been written from this basic premise, and this gives a rich depth to the narrative. many years in the making. The heroes have complex backstories and this initial offering is very tantalising. You will definitely want to know more!
The art is expressive, energetic and has a very fresh feel to it, as does the story. The fun vibe may be aimed at a young readership but this can be appreciated by fans of all ages. The novel premise gives this the tone of an old-fashioned adventure quest; heroes from ancient myths and legends voyaging to fantastic new lands ... but with the added sheen of science fiction.
The writing is surprisingly mature given the packaging, with deep themes just below the surface. It doesn't drag the story down, though, so open the throttle and enjoy the ride...
THRILL KINGS Issue Zero: Fitful Dreaming on Amazon
Zak Webber
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