December 30th, 2024
I was so excited to finally get the first issue of Smarg delivered to my door!
This book is both the debut of pals Paul Hallgren and Jesse Switters as a creative team and Snow Day Press, the new local comic imprint. Smarg himself is the alter ego of Swerven Niv-Bakcen, an amateur superhero watching over the city of Hober Hiblin with the help of his friend Jarjin.
I don’t want to spoil any of the plot or surprises from there, but I highly recommend this book if you’re looking for some classic comic book escapades!
Paul writes great dialogue and the world-building is smart, rarely feeling like exposition; I got Batman Beyond vibes from Smarg (an extremely high compliment from me), from the silly, futuristic swear words to the youthful, cocky hero who uses them (and still has a lot to learn).
Never enough praise can be given to Jesse’s gorgeous artwork (in this book and outside it). He creates something that feels warm and nostalgic but also bold and new, all at the same time. It looks like a comic that could have come out of the Golden Age or ten years from now. It’s a testament to his talent that the style and taste in this book are uniquely his own.
Smarg is a fantastic first foray for everyone involved in the project. You can find the issue in local comic shops and be sure to follow its creators on social media! They promise the series will be back in 2025 and I cannot wait.
The Den 