Brand New Feature: Bodie Troll #1 (Red 5 Comics)

by Jay Fosgitt

Think fairy tale inspired characters in a world that looks and feels very familiar to the colored version of Jeff Smith's Bone and you have a pretty good picture of the universe presented in the first issue of Bodie Troll from Red 5 Comics. Written, drawn and colored by Jay Fosgitt, this mini series follows a troll who is too cute to be any real threat despite the species he is and what he is meant to do. Bodie is adorable, a down and out type character who has a real child-like charm. Issue one is mostly focused on character and world more so than an ongoing story.

At the start of the issue, Fosgitt plays homage to the fable "Three Billy Goats Gruff." Bodie, though, is no real threat and the goats overwhelm him, licking him into submission before leaving him to shout insults from the ground as they mosey on by. Bodie seems to be a character who is not really good any anything and continually gets in his own way. He heads to town and we are introduced to a few other major characters including Cholly the tavern keep and her fairy godmother. The town itself feels very much inspired by Smith's Bone. Bodie is sent out in search of an egg for the tavern to earn his keep, and things do not go anywhere close to smoothly, including some mutated poultry.

There are a few other side notes about issue one that add to the overall tale. At one point Bodie is distracted by a puppet show. The show turns out to be a newscast, as this is the way "breaking news" is delivered to the people of the town, complete with puppet-reenactments of the events. Fosgitt even includes a bit of social commentary about food consumerism. 

Bodie Troll #1 is advertised as 9+, digitally, and that is pretty accurate. While Bodie himself is very cute and nothing in the book is anywhere close to adult, there is some insulting and the main character's "pee" has unintended villain-defeating affects (though nothing is ever depicted nor is the situation done in any vulgar way). On the whole, Fosgitt has a very enjoyable story here and fans of all ages books will have fun with this cute new character. Billed a mini, the hope is that this is closer to Atomic Robo or more recently Fairy Quest where the numbering designates the length of the volume and not the life of the title, itself.

Writing:  7/10

Art: 8/10

Overall: 7/10