Amber Atoms #1
	Writer: Kelly Yates Artist: Kelly Yates Colorist: Michael E. Wiggam Cover by: Kelly Yates Published by: Image Comics
	Reviewed by: Bruce Logan

EXCLAMATION (Candid Reaction): “Ahem...yeah!!”

EXPLANATION (Plot): There is a fight, an overthrow (and killing) of an oppressive 'Master', some kind of inter-planetary conference and then Amber Atoms shows up with her mom-n'-dad.

EXAMINATION (Story): Good thing this is an ongoing (at least I hope it is an ongoing) because as a first issue of a mini-series, even a 4-6 issue mini, this #1 would have just about sucked.

For one, the pacing of the story is a bit wonky, it has time and place jumps like there is no tomorrow. However, a couple of reads can take care of that. What it can’t do away is that for the #1 issue of a series with her name on it there is not very much about Ms. Amber Atoms here. Sure, she gets about half the issue devoted to her but most of it your run-of-the-mill “bursting forth” scene, with a major part of the remaining being devoted to Amber and her family getting attack in their home. Nothing is shown or even hinted at about who it is that is attacking or their whys and wherefores. Now I am as much about mystery and the slow rolling out of the revelations but come on if you are going to spend so much time setting up one side/aspect and then going to end with a cliffhanger, at least give some shade of a hint of something that is joining the two. This looks like a story written for the trade paperback format then split into monthlies.

EXAMINATION (Art): The artwork is definitely the best thing about the issue. Not only do the characters show emotions they also seem to be tightly drawn and coloured. My personal favourite character was the ‘Swamp Girl from Outer Space’.

PROCLAMATION (Conclusion): I (might) get the second issue but am not sure beyond that.

RATING: 6/10