feature Comic book review - Travkovi ( The Slav with no remourse )

Credits

Variant Covers: Dave Thomas, Dillion Korbisser, Lane Lloyd

Editor: Andrea Molinari

Based in suburbia of Edmonton, Trakovi : The Slav with no remorse’s plot follows the shenanigans of a group of villains in a “Villain rehab”, while the rehab itself is not going very well for them. The first issue is mostly a flashback of the day it starts on and carry forwards into issue 2. Endings of both the issue 1 and 2 have shocking twists, both of which, I would say I didn’t coming, especially the ending of Issue 2. The story takes a huge turn then and sets things up for a really interesting issue 3 and beyond.

Issue 1 opens with our titular character in the middle of a very unforgivable crime. Trakovi’s character, as the name suggests performs these heinous acts of crime without a shred of remorse while on his way to his “Villain Rehab” meeting. The other villain characters from the rehab meeting, Trakovi’s friends & family are really likeable and provide a good balance to Trakovi’s character. Pastor Jim’s introduction is a great in an scene where we get a lot of information and he is portrayed as one of the “cool” pastors, who tries to see good in the people.

The people around Trakovi seem to understand, why he’s alone and he is the way he is, even have empathy for him despite his actions. The story, mostly in flashback in the first 2 issues, is high impact, is wrought with tension. There’s a constant sense of looming danger around the every corner of the story.

Laced with dark humour and rife with pop-culture references, there are elements that make you feel this almost an alternate timeline of the world. In the Edmonton of Trakovi, a funky news reporter with a mullet, Oakleys and a fanny pack, audio cassettes and iPhones all exist together in the present times.

If Punk rock was a genre of comics, Trakovi ( The Slav with no remorse ) would fall perfectly in it and if GG Allin were alive, he would be great friends with Trakovi the character. The art style and colour palette is decidedly grimy and adds to the punk rock feel of the book. The shadow of Edmonton looms large over the whole setup, so much so that it becomes a character in the story. The life in suburbia, the cultural diversity, SNFU, even a features a real local butchery from Edmonton! You will have the voice of Chi-pig stuck in your head after a few panels!

Panel division, especially in the pages where characters from the “Villian rehab” group meeting, introduce themselves is busy and fun. Lettering needs a special mention too, because the letter has gone out of the way to focus on things like - the dialogue translated from Slovenian, focusing on key plot points, voices from various sources. You’re able to follow everything clearly and that’s a great achievement as some panels are busy!

Trakovi ( The Slav with no remorse ) is a hard hitting comic book with a very dark sense of humour, some extremely creative art and colour choices and a punk-rock style that it loves to wear it on it’s sleeve. Get this book if you’re a fan of crime genre, villains and of-course punk rock. Best Enjoyed with SNFU’s songs playing out loud! Get some amazing variant covers, while you're at it!