jkenna90's review
5.0
Black Badge is a comic about boy scouts. Not just any boy scouts though. The cream of the crop, best of the best, boy scouts. These scouts have earned every badge there is to earn. Or so they thought. They find out that there is another badge, the black badge.
Having been a Girl Scout my entire life I really enjoyed reading about this fictional universe surrounding using children - specifically scouts - to carry out secret missions. Because really who expects a bunch of kids, right? The plot of the book is nice, well paced and not rushed. Secrets are teased out as we read along. I really enjoyed the story line and the art style as well. I would highly recommend this book, especially if you are a fan of spy stories. Altogether, it was a fun story and I am excited to read more!
Having been a Girl Scout my entire life I really enjoyed reading about this fictional universe surrounding using children - specifically scouts - to carry out secret missions. Because really who expects a bunch of kids, right? The plot of the book is nice, well paced and not rushed. Secrets are teased out as we read along. I really enjoyed the story line and the art style as well. I would highly recommend this book, especially if you are a fan of spy stories. Altogether, it was a fun story and I am excited to read more!
crookedtreehouse's review
3.0
Matt Kindt is one of the best pitch writers currently working in comics. I've loved most of his work, even whenthe characters are rarely as fleshed out as I'd hope, even when it feels like I'm reading a well-illustrated Wikipedia entry about a fantastic series rather than just reading that series.
For me, that's how Black Badge felt. I liked the story beats, and the watercolor illustrations, but neither the story nor the paneling and layouts made this story particularly stand out. In this first volume about a group of Black Ops Boy Scouts, each character gives their origin story in a flashback completely unrelated to the story's main adventure (calling in an air strike in North Korea, for example). Even with those back stories, it's hard to see these characters as anything more than devices through which the plot moves along.
As a silly adventure story with hyperbolic stakes, I'm intrigued, and will keep reading, but the most excited I was during my read-through was when Kindt tied this directly into [b:MIND MGMT, Volume One: The Manager|16255052|MIND MGMT, Volume One The Manager|Matt Kindt|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1406391108l/16255052._SY75_.jpg|22298040], and referenced the existence of [b:Grass Kings, Vol. 1|35606635|Grass Kings, Vol. 1|Matt Kindt|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1501538217l/35606635._SY75_.jpg|57044244]. those are fun Easter Eggs, but they shouldn't have been the high points of this story.
I do recommend it for people who enjoy Kindt's watercolor style work (he's not the artist on this book, [a:Tyler Jenkins|4773224|Tyler Jenkins|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] is, but it's evocative of Kindt's watercolors without seeming at all derivative. Fans of ridiculous Mission Impossible style romps might also enjoy this.
For me, that's how Black Badge felt. I liked the story beats, and the watercolor illustrations, but neither the story nor the paneling and layouts made this story particularly stand out. In this first volume about a group of Black Ops Boy Scouts, each character gives their origin story in a flashback completely unrelated to the story's main adventure (calling in an air strike in North Korea, for example). Even with those back stories, it's hard to see these characters as anything more than devices through which the plot moves along.
As a silly adventure story with hyperbolic stakes, I'm intrigued, and will keep reading, but the most excited I was during my read-through was when Kindt tied this directly into [b:MIND MGMT, Volume One: The Manager|16255052|MIND MGMT, Volume One The Manager|Matt Kindt|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1406391108l/16255052._SY75_.jpg|22298040], and referenced the existence of [b:Grass Kings, Vol. 1|35606635|Grass Kings, Vol. 1|Matt Kindt|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1501538217l/35606635._SY75_.jpg|57044244]. those are fun Easter Eggs, but they shouldn't have been the high points of this story.
I do recommend it for people who enjoy Kindt's watercolor style work (he's not the artist on this book, [a:Tyler Jenkins|4773224|Tyler Jenkins|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] is, but it's evocative of Kindt's watercolors without seeming at all derivative. Fans of ridiculous Mission Impossible style romps might also enjoy this.
jhstack's review
3.0
While I liked the core plot, I still have yet to get fully hooked by the core characters, the structuring (just getting tossed in and having Willy act as the audience POV character), and the end of the last issue that comprises the volume (namely, how many issues were collected in the trade). I did also like the passing MIND MGMT reference. (e-galley from NetGalley)
carroq's review
4.0
Disclaimer: I received a free ecopy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Someone thought it was a great idea to take a bunch of kids, train them to be spies and assassins and turn them loose on the world. This all happens in the guise of a scout troop system similar to the Boy Scouts. The missions that we get to see the members of the Black Badges on in this volume are somewhat disconnected. They flow pretty well from one to the next. I didn't feel like there was an overarching plotline that tied them together well enough, which is perfectly fine. I like Matt Kindt's writing quit a bit and can forgive a looser storytelling style in hopes of seeing a payoff down the line.
I think the big thing is that I enjoyed reading the characters. The first chapter is clearly an introduction because each of the Black Badge members is presented based on the role that they are meant to fill. They start to develop within that first issue, but it is really in the second and later parts that they take off. There is a new kid and a bit of mystery about what happened to the Black Badge that he replaced. This gets some payoff before the end of the book, yet it doesn't get resolved. And that's part of why I enjoyed this book. It sets down a lot of story points, introduces the characters and the system they work in, and ends with a clear direction for the next volume. The worldbuilding that goes into this volume definitely lays out the potential for the setting, with these characters or new ones.
The art is great. The drawings are good and the watercolor effect is great. After reading this book, I want to see more of this series to find out what happens next.
Someone thought it was a great idea to take a bunch of kids, train them to be spies and assassins and turn them loose on the world. This all happens in the guise of a scout troop system similar to the Boy Scouts. The missions that we get to see the members of the Black Badges on in this volume are somewhat disconnected. They flow pretty well from one to the next. I didn't feel like there was an overarching plotline that tied them together well enough, which is perfectly fine. I like Matt Kindt's writing quit a bit and can forgive a looser storytelling style in hopes of seeing a payoff down the line.
I think the big thing is that I enjoyed reading the characters. The first chapter is clearly an introduction because each of the Black Badge members is presented based on the role that they are meant to fill. They start to develop within that first issue, but it is really in the second and later parts that they take off. There is a new kid and a bit of mystery about what happened to the Black Badge that he replaced. This gets some payoff before the end of the book, yet it doesn't get resolved. And that's part of why I enjoyed this book. It sets down a lot of story points, introduces the characters and the system they work in, and ends with a clear direction for the next volume. The worldbuilding that goes into this volume definitely lays out the potential for the setting, with these characters or new ones.
The art is great. The drawings are good and the watercolor effect is great. After reading this book, I want to see more of this series to find out what happens next.
vsbedford's review
3.0
A clever idea, rendered in a style that doesn't totally appeal to me (there are too many what I call color pages, such that all the page is done in blue and black or red and black, I find it distracting and a bit too "ooooo" for my tastes). I think there are some great building blocks here, but all in all I found it to be a far too serious version of The Lumberjanes, and probably won't read Vol. 2.
I received an ecopy from the publishers and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received an ecopy from the publishers and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
rbritt515's review
2.0
I really wanted to love this-- a comic about a covert group of boy scout-like secret agents tasked with traveling across the world and and going places no adult could get away with going. Great premise. But the comic itself fell short for me. There were a few interesting parts, but it didn't feel as fresh or interesting as I had hoped based on that premise. Overall: meh.
**Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review**
**Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review**
quirkycatsfatstacks's review
4.0
I received a copy of Black Badge Vol. 1 through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Black Badge is a new series from Boom! Box. Lately, I’ve been willing to give almost any series from Boom! a chance, simply because they’ve been so awesome about publishing new and different things. Black Badge was no exception to this.
The series is about a particular branch of the boy scouts – the Black Badges. Specifically, the series follows four of them through their harrowing tales of espionage, subterfuge, and tactical maneuvers.
I ended up enjoying this series more than I expected, and have to admit that it was way more intense and riveting than I had anticipated. I strongly recommend it to anybody looking for something different to read.
Black Badge didn’t waste any time throwing us, or the main characters, into the thick of things. I personally love that they chose to have one new member added to an otherwise established team. This gave us an in for the series. The new guy got to ask all the questions we wanted to, thus allowing us to learn along with him. It was an elegant solution to the problem. And I prefer it to having the whole team be full of probies (I don’t think that would have worked with the story they want to tell here).
I love how Black Badge feels like they have to constantly escalate things. It isn’t enough that we have a secret organization within the boy scouts. It isn’t even enough that said secret organization does black ops missions (hence the name, I suspect). Nope, we have to see them figuring out that there’s even more than that to uncover. I’m happy for it because I think it gave the series a lot more lasting power than originally believed – which is saying something.
They’ve set themselves up for a tough go at character development here. I’m not saying it isn’t do-able, just that they made it harder. Most of the kids are pretty hardened and unwilling to show us any cracks or weakness. But that can be a form of character development in its own right – just not necessarily the healthy kind. I’m impressed with what they were able to get out of the characters, and how much they were able to make us care about them.
I’m looking forward to seeing where the story goes from here. It’s clear that they’re building towards a bigger picture – the fourth issue removed any doubt from my mind about that. I just don’t quite know where it’s going just yet. I’ll have to keep reading to find out!
For more reviews, check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
Black Badge is a new series from Boom! Box. Lately, I’ve been willing to give almost any series from Boom! a chance, simply because they’ve been so awesome about publishing new and different things. Black Badge was no exception to this.
The series is about a particular branch of the boy scouts – the Black Badges. Specifically, the series follows four of them through their harrowing tales of espionage, subterfuge, and tactical maneuvers.
Spoiler
I ended up enjoying this series more than I expected, and have to admit that it was way more intense and riveting than I had anticipated. I strongly recommend it to anybody looking for something different to read.
Black Badge didn’t waste any time throwing us, or the main characters, into the thick of things. I personally love that they chose to have one new member added to an otherwise established team. This gave us an in for the series. The new guy got to ask all the questions we wanted to, thus allowing us to learn along with him. It was an elegant solution to the problem. And I prefer it to having the whole team be full of probies (I don’t think that would have worked with the story they want to tell here).
I love how Black Badge feels like they have to constantly escalate things. It isn’t enough that we have a secret organization within the boy scouts. It isn’t even enough that said secret organization does black ops missions (hence the name, I suspect). Nope, we have to see them figuring out that there’s even more than that to uncover. I’m happy for it because I think it gave the series a lot more lasting power than originally believed – which is saying something.
They’ve set themselves up for a tough go at character development here. I’m not saying it isn’t do-able, just that they made it harder. Most of the kids are pretty hardened and unwilling to show us any cracks or weakness. But that can be a form of character development in its own right – just not necessarily the healthy kind. I’m impressed with what they were able to get out of the characters, and how much they were able to make us care about them.
I’m looking forward to seeing where the story goes from here. It’s clear that they’re building towards a bigger picture – the fourth issue removed any doubt from my mind about that. I just don’t quite know where it’s going just yet. I’ll have to keep reading to find out!
For more reviews, check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
littledollreads's review
2.0
There were a couple of quick things that just didn't work for me with this comic. The art for one just didn't work for me. Any situation where I take notice of the art for being anything other than beautiful typically causes me concern. Another thing I just couldn't get behind was the story. It didn't click with me as the most enjoyable story. I also think I've read and consumed more enjoyable media involving slightly twisted scouts as a concept.