They’re All Terrible: The Best of the Shrewd

Well Matt Kindt is back with another Bad Idea: They’re All Terrible. With yet another fantasy world post-epic battle on the catalogue, something needs to stand out. This time it’s post-war warriors lacking purpose on both sides of a conflict. When your villains are some cruel wretches, you expect well-meaning if flawed heroes. Nope, a town of artisans and scholars get picky ruffians who fight each other; the kind that you can’t help laughing with and at.

They’re All Terrible…ly Fun Dynamics!

Kindt plays to the strengths of TTRPG comics with a character driven plot with layers of arcs and motivations to bring memorable dynamics. From the reader’s point-of-view character, Espion, they experience each person oozing personality.

The way the Blood Mourner’s leader (Captain Mar) delivers an impassioned speech to motivate his troops speak leagues to what they’re all about. In juxtaposition are captions that bounce off all of their words to the layers of motivation. On one hand, they’re disillusioned soldiers who lost purpose after the war with nothing but scars to show for it. But on the other, they’re bigoted bandits willing to rape and pillage people just for being in their way.

So who do we have to fight them? A few anti-social war heroes that Espion somehow manages to convince. With how he stammers his words around them, even the readers feel can’t tell if the situation can improve. Kral for example is if Conan the Barbarian became an aimless drunk after his time as king. The way he speaks with Espion feels very similar to Rick Sanchez and Morty Smith from the eponymous show. Not just on the surface but their dynamic of overbearing situational awareness against the audience filter. Meaning Espion and the audience adjust to the mounting absurdities as the “heroes” shape these events.

By the next issue, we get a whole crew of memorably distinct personalities. From the well-rounded Ora the Red Sonja stand-in to a pair already secretly in cahoots. They all have the makings of a fantasy quest party but also a heist crew. Because wouldn’t you know it, they’re ready to rob the village blind during the attack. They’re All Terrible indeed.

The Theatrical Villalobos

With Kindt bringing the theatrical character performances, an artist has to present it with the same enthusiasm. Luckily, Ramon Villalobos is such an artist whether it’s with characters or setting. Just the opening page’s background with barren, wicked-looking mountains speak as loud as Captain Mar. Other times it looks cinematic with a camera following a single focused movement.

Let’s not forget the line work in conjunction with Tamra Bonvillain’s coloring. Our introduction to Kral shows him as a simple yet domineering drunk. At least compared to his opponent Duel whose line work, detail, and color balance of his accessories come across as overcompensating. Unlike Kral who only needs his height, skin tone, and simpler weapons and garb to overcome him. Come on, a belt that has his name on it speaks leagues about the big oaf. Of course his bad breath with SFX by Simon Bowland to further intimidate Duel helps too.

The same applies to the other characters. Each only needs one page to get the idea on who they are with distinct styles in presentation. One magic user uses plenty of word balloons to show his arc of getting his “mojo” back. Other characters need a bit of foreshadowing on other pages with the assassin and his accomplice setting themselves up with anticipation.

They’re All Terrible, Except In Story

They’re All Terrible looks like it’s going to be a great series full of interesting characters going at each other. Between the fun moments, dire threats, character arcs, and foreshadowed moments, it’s great to have a POV who adjusts to it as much as the reader. Otherwise it would just be the sum of its parts instead of being greater than those. Right now it gets 9/10.

But the ink’s not dry yet! Thanks for coming and as always remember to look between the panels.