Buy this comic!

Yesterday, I’m at my local comic book store Dragon’s Lair to pick up my weekly fix of funny books, The Simpsons usually. I’m browsing all the new arrivals to make sure I don’t miss anything I normally get since I only made a committment to subscribe to a couple mini-series. Then I noticed this cover (see above) and I immediately thought, “hey, that artists draws like my friend Steve Bryant!” When I read the title Athena Voltaire, then I smacked my forehead (mentally and virtually) and realized, that’s Steve Bryant’s title that he does with Paul [Daly] and Chad [Fidler]! 
 
What’s this about? It’s about the adventures of this lady named Athena Voltaire (obviously) during the 1930s. To me it’s part Indiana Jones (fighting Nazis), part Aeon Flux (cuz she kicks serious ass) and part the Shadow (since she has some mystical training). There is also the additional comic/story of Paul’sTerranauts which I haven’t read yet. 
 
Why should you read it? Not just because my friend Steve drew it, co-plots it and co-created it (I hope he’ll correct me if I get it wrong). There are some serious endorsements on the front and back covers. There’s author Warren Ellis (Justice League Unlimited TV show), Tim Bradstreet (cover artist for Dark Horse, Marvel and DC), Mark Schulz (creator of Cadillacs & Dinosaurs), Mike Barr (comic writer for Batman & the Outsiders) and the clincher, Javier Grillo-Marxuach (producer and writer for the hit show Lost). 
 
If that weren’t enough, there’s a plug saying that this book is up for an Eisner Award. What’s that? It’s a very prestigious award named after Wil Eisner who I feel is a key person responsible for setting the standard on quality comic book writing. This award has been presented to other famous books like Maus and it’s actually a legitimate prize, unlike a Grammy. 
 
Way to go Steve! He’s on his way and I know it’s a dream come true. Soon, I know he’ll be joining the ranks of the greats: Miller, Perez, Giordano, Thompson, Gibbons, Janson, Pini, Barta, and so on.