Alpha-Shade User Reviews

By: Joseph Brudlos
Average User Rating: 4.6 out of 5 (9 reviews)

User Reviews: [Add/Edit Your Review]

graphxdsgr 
Opening on the eve of a major battle in war between two rival empires, Alpha Shade quickly draws you in with rich detailed artwork and engaging story-lines. However, if you think this is just some stock war comic, think again. What really sets this comic apart is the inter-activeness the reader has while viewing each page. Since the comic is done 100% digitally using Flash and Photoshop, readers can zoom into a page to see every detail. From people in a far off crowd, to text on a laptop monitor, Joe and Chris Brudlos put a richness of detail that simply amazes. The creators also have an audio commentary section where they give insight into the creation of each page, story details and other insights into their lives. From movie reviews, to critters and trains, the Alpha Rant is worth catching. For those that like something in their hands to read, Alpha Shade delivers there as well. The first chapter is available in a 96 page full color book with loads of extra features. While it would be hard to think the comic could look any better, the printed version is just as well crafted as the digital version. Glossy, vibrant print puts the book up against any commercially available print comic and shows the same care and craftsmanship as they put into all their work. Alpha Shade, if you're not reading it now, you should be instead of reading this review.

Camth 
What makes a good comic? Is it the story? Is it the artwork? Is it the dialogue? What ever it is, Joe and Chris have figured it out. Like a good mystery novel each page is loaded with small details that make rereading the pages a pleasure. And these details aren’t just there for background filler, they give the reader a chance to see beyond the page and into the Alpha Shade universe. They hint at the motives, means, and opportunities of saboteurs, the importance of small items, and give way to much speculation on the forums. You would think that this detail might detract from the dialogue but that is not true. A subtle hand gesture or facial expression helps to strengthen the spoken word. The story itself is unique and has already had its share of twists and turns. Each page brings about more speculation on future events, and with every passing page the artwork seems to improve (which is quite hard to fathom considering the quality of the original pages). The environments are rich and vivid and I’m not the only one who thinks so. Alpha Shade was recently nominated for four Web Cartoonist Choice Awards, including Outstanding Environmental Design, Outstanding Use of Flash, Outstanding Website Design, and Outstanding Long Form Comic. Aren’t convinced that Alpha Shade is the best thing since sliced bread? Well, go read a couple pages and see for yourself, I know you’ll be hooked.

Kerberos 
In short, Alpha-Shade is an action sci-fi epic spanning two worlds that follows a group of friends through their hardships in a war-torn universe. A-S definately targets a smart audience. Don't expect to have all your questions answered right away, or to know everything at the story's onset -- it's designed so that the reader will only know as much as the characters do. Alot of the thoughts and emotions the characters experience will be inferred from their actions and expressions, and the creators have made it very clear they have no intention to spoon-feed the plot to you. They also aren't afraid to develop interesting, dynamic characters they fully intent to kill-off, adding an element of unpredictability to the storyline. War is both unpredictable and unforgiving to those fighting it, and Chris and Joe strive to preserve that realism in Alpha-Shade. Artistically, A-S is held to the same high standards as the story. Each frame is a unique and detailed work, and you won't find any copy-paste recycling of pictures and backgrounds or ugly shortcuts. Each and every character and environment is painstakingly drawn in Flash, and the reader can zoom in and examine every minute detail. The weapons and equipment are all researched for historical accuracy, and the scenery is simply gorgeous. The creators make the comic very interactive for their fanbase by posting audio "Alpha-Rants," in which they explain the development process and their intentions for each page, answer questions, provide commentary, and make biting (and hilarious) satires of any of the hundreds of frustrating mishaps they experience trying to get A-S off the ground. This is a comic you don't want to miss -- even those who aren't die-hard fans of manga or comics can appreciate the amount of effort invested in it. Alpha-Shade is setting high standards for other comics to follow.

vonAdler 
Alpha-shade's first and foremost advantage is the awesome art. It is made in a style and with a skill that most webcomic cartoonists could only dream of achieving. An intriguing universe, a story that is starting to unfold and interesting characters adds to the mix to make a webcomic more than well worth reading. The storytelling is excellent and I have found myself emotionally involved with thew characters in a way I normally only experience with a very well-written novel. The comic is regularly updated, which is a big plus. Of course, it can never progress fast enough - you always want the next page right now. Despite that, the authors are taking the time and space needed to develop characters and plots well, which can seem frustrating when reading one page a week, but comes together really well when reading it all in one session. Highly recommended.

murphy 
First off, I'm not going to summarize the comic. If you like an in-depth plot or great art, this comic is for you. The artwork is amazing. Joe doesn't pull the punches in his work; he works on the pages until they're the best they can be before posting them. True, this means that the comic doesn't update as often as the fans would like (most are so intrigued by the story that they're begging for new pages), but it also means that you'll never see a crappy or half-assed page. It's all quality here. Add to that an in-depth, intriguing story line, and you have a recipe for success. Chris has done his homework. Unlike most other comics, the creators of this comic know where they're going. Fans don't have to worry about crappy side plots or lame twists with this comic. Alpha Shade has a story, and page by page, it captures more readers as the story unfolds. Readers get entranced by the realistic characters, and like all great works, they get emotionally attached to the characters and care what happens to them. Just ask all the readers that complained when some of their favorite characters introduced so far were killed. Alpha Shade also offers a unique opportunity for those interested in more than just a comic itself but how it's made. Joe and Chris offer examples every step of the way on how they create the world that is Alpha Shade. Interested fans can find original and edited scripts on the forums, storyboards for each comic with the comic itself, and Alpha Rants where Joe and Chris talk about how the comic is made and published as well as other pertinent information. Alpha Shade is the whole package: great art, great story telling, and all the extras and interesting information a fan could ever want. If you like comics, art, or stories, Alpha Shade is for you.

herbkir 
I could sum up my review of Alpha Shade in a few words: You gotta read this comic!!! it's a perfect 5 out of 5. But why do I say that? The Brudlos Bros. have created a richly detailed imaginary universe in armed conflict where people may be much more than they seem, two parallel worlds interact, fleets of flying battleships vie for command of the skies while politicians scheme, sentient cats really do have psychic powers and are lords of the domain, and warbirds are literally that, huge fighting avians that carry out military missions. They’ve populated this universe with a cast of fascinating people who readers come to know well, so well that we cheer when they triumph and mourn when they are killed. For this is war, after all, and the people serving the side we readers are allied with are just as much at risk as their enemies. All this is told through beautifully rendered and highly detailed, full-color, multi-paneled pages, where you can even identify the makes and models of vehicles, or tell which Earthly weapons systems were the prototypes for the Alpha Shade military equipment. And they sprinkle the story with clues to the backstory of their universe and its mysteries. I’m not going to summarize the plot, except to say that Alpha Shade is telling a gripping story of friends caught up in the storm of war. (For the plot, go read this comic.) And if this isn’t enough, the comic is supported by a Website that lets readers peer inside the creative process as Joe and Chris Brudlos storyboard their pages. And we can hear their thoughts on comics and other topics through frequently updated audio Podcasts. Finally there’s a lively Website forum where we can exchange thoughts with the Brudlos Bros. and each other about Alpha Shade, sci-fi, military history, the art of storytelling and so much more. And if you appreciate finely printed comic art, you also must buy the first volume of the Alpha Shade saga, available through their Web site. They did a truly outstanding job of putting their Web creation into print. This comic may not update as frequently as some, but it’s worth the wait, and you can usually count on a page or two per week. Alpha Shade isn’t just a webcomic, it’s a whole universe for you to immerse yourself in. Like I said: You gotta read this comic!!! (^_*)

PLiu 
Alpha Shade is an online graphic novel written by Chris Brudlos and drawn by Joe Brudlos. It is very well drawn with Joe’s unique realistic style. The pages are extremely detailed with multiple colored shading and high quality background plus a few inside jokes. The characters’ expressions are done really well. Emotions can be easily evoked from the characters’ faces. The technical art (battleships, tanks, guns and swords) are very accurately drawn or drawn in a very believable way. Also the sound effects on the page are done in a way similar to the sound effects found in mangas (Japanese comics). It artistically blends into the page. For example the sound effect for the red tracer on page 33 looks as if it is moves along with the beam. Another example is found on page 79 where the word appears to have crashed onto the ground with the plane. Although the art is done in a very well, the main thing that kept me wanting to read Alpha shade is its content. The first Chapter starts off immediately into the action and ends with a cliffhanger that grabs the readers’ attention and leaves a lot unanswered question. This leads to the next chapters which will focus on Character developments and explain how the character got to where they are now. (so explains Chris in one of his rants) The mood in chapter one can be described as unexpected from a series of unexpected events that comes as a surprise. Each page is done in a way that makes the audience crave to find out what happens next. This leads to the only major down-fall of the comic: its slow update rate. This can’t be helped since quality takes time and Alpha Shade is very high in quality. One page takes around 20 hours to do. (as Joe says in one of his rant) This might result in readers forgetting the previous materials. Which means Alpha Shade is best read through all at one setting. In conclusion: Reading Alpha Shade is is definitely worth your time.

RDespair 
Well, the art is pretty (the color work is particularly well done). Sadly, the same can not be said of the story. There's quite possibly a good story hidden in here somewhere, but it's hidden by very uneasy pacing with unimportant events taking up far too many pages while important events are glossed over (no doubt in a poor attempt to create an air of mystery). Character names are held in reserve for far too long making it difficult for readers to develop attachments to those characters. In short, the story feels like a first draft - the kind that feels awesome in the writer's head, but when actually put down on paper loses most of its impact and coherance. Still, the art is fairly pretty.

Adama_Ish 
Alpha Shade is a bit of an enigma. It is very obvious that it is going to be quite good. I mean, from the first comic onwards I already knew I was looking at a masterpiece in the work. However, certain elements in the story are for some reason left unexplained, and as of yet seem to make little to no sense. For example, what is the role of the cats? They obviously are not just normal cats, but their true role is not explained to the reader. However, The comic is picking up, and I imagine that in just a month or two that 3 star rating I gave it will become a 4 or 5 star one.

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