‘Crude’ #1 and #2 (review)

Written by Steve Orlando
Illustrated by Garry Brown
Published by Image Comics

Steve Orlando is a fine writer. That’s why I was more than a little disappointed with this title. It’s not terrible and it has some good art, but I wasn’t grabbed by it at all. It sort of just left me cold.

The main character is Piotr Petrovich. He was once the most feared killer in the world. When his son is killed, he travels back to Russia to dig through his son’s past. He’s also out to get revenge on his son’s killers.

It’s a very familiar story and Orlando doesn’t do much to make it stand out. When he does try makes it unique, it instead for me became confusing.

The good part of the book is the artwork by Garry Brown. Orlando starts off the first two pages of the book with a really strong flashback sequence that lets Brown strut his stuff. Brown keeps it up throughout. But then Orlando jumps back and forth in time. One scene it’s a flashback to 20 years ago. The next, we are in present time. Then, it’s back to 20 years ago. Then a year ago. He also takes us to different locales. A more streamlined book would have been appreciated. I like being off kilter as a reader but I got lost a few times.

That’s tough for a new series.

The last line of the first book was cool. It’s Piotr saying, “show me who you really were” about his son. By that point, the book was a chore and had a lot of talking. A LOT of talking.

The second issue moved a bit more but had many of the same problems as the first issue. There is a scene where Piotr gets to stretch his stuff in a fight but it’s more confusing rather than fun.

Again, the art on this is the highlight for me. Brown has been great for years. I hope this turns around. Orlando can do better than this and I hope the story picks up and feels more focused. Right now, it’s just not fully formed.

RATING: B-