Nick Simmons "Incarnate" #1

I'll admit it; I'm a fan of Gene Simmons Family Jewels. It's scripted as all get out but it's worth a laugh. As Gene's son, Nick Simmons gets a lot of airtime and as it is supposed to be a 'reality' show, Nick's efforts at becoming a published Comic author get a lot of screen time. They've bandied about the coming of "Incarnate" for quite some time so naturally, I've been pretty curious.

Incarnate #1 is a new Radical Comics three issue mini. Nick Simmons, joined by artist Nam Kim, the book is adult in nature and suggested for mature artists. To be honest, I didn't realize until looking up the book this morning that Simmons was also credited as penciller for the book which actually makes things a bit more interesting.

At first glance, "Incarnate" seems pretty catchy based on the plot blurbs and cover art. In reading, it still remains pretty interesting though this first issue does fall short of blowing the minds of its readers. The story is decent, it flows well and hits all the important poses needed in a comic. Unfortunately, it feels as if it leaves the reader in a bit too much confusion as to what exactly is going on in the book once you turn the last page. This factor is generally fine in setting up a prolonged story arch but in a three issue mini series, it makes you wonder just how they're going to pull off a concise story in a short amount of time. Mind you, you're still left with curiosity as to the plot, what Mot and friends are, what technology the Revenants control so it is definitely not a bad story. It is just unclear as to how this will play out in three issues.

The artwork for "Incarnate" is passable and does a good job and conveying some good old fashioned gore and carnage. The entire book has traces of managa influence in both art and story style but does so without going overboard and seeming like a copy.

"Incarnate" is a good read but may need to play out to its conclusion to become a great read. Many may fear that Nick Simmons is getting a shot because he's Nick Simmons but he's not. He has the goods, both story telling and art wise so for me, he's legit. Sure, both sets of tools could use some time to mature but the seed is there and "Incarnate" is a good first effort.

"Incarnate" weighs in at $4.99 but is still a pretty beefy book. Containing 52 pages of full color story, there's plenty there to read. The book should be available in comic shops everywhere.