About Maurice And The Metal #1
Maurice And The Metal #1 is written by Aaron Sammut. The artwork is by Jesse Hamm. The series premiered in April of 2019 and there are currently two issues of the series available.
Maurice is a young metalhead in the mid-1980s who develops a superpower of incredible strength. However, Maurice’s power is only activated when he listens to metal music. Maurice then heads on an epic journey to keep the spirit of metal alive!
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Maurice And The Metal #1 Review
This is a spoiler-free review of Maurice and the Metal issue 1.
I love music-based comics. As much as I love reading comic books, music has always been my primary creative skill. Any time I can read and learn more about music is an awesome experience. I had to bust out my denim vest for this review.
The first thing that hit me about Maurice and the Metal is how shows the reality of playing live music and being in a band. Band practices can be stressful, and live gigs take a lot of work and coordination. In my opinion, this is something that music fans often take for granted. Being in bands for most of my life made it easy to relate to these characters.
The artwork in Maurice and the Metal does an excellent job of capturing the 1980s heavy metal aesthetic. I also enjoyed the variations in shading techniques and texture details. Black and white comics need these extra features to give the art depth. The absence of color means that every line and detail needs to be on-point. Visually, Maurice and the Metal creates an immersive reading experience.
Another fascinating aspect of Maurice and the Metal is Maurice’s family dynamic. Since this comic is based around the powers of music, we get to see how music is part of the identity of Maurice’s family members. Everyone has their own taste in music and different ways in which their musical tastes play into their character.
Issue 1 of Maurice and the Metal does some excellent worldbuilding. By the end of this issue, you know all of the main characters, the setting, and the basic plot. This is something that all good first issues need. I often feel that comic creators tend to make their first issues too cryptic and mysterious. However, you need to build a good foundation for the story to continue. Sammut and Hamm flawlessly set up the story for Maurice and the Metal.
I can’t wait to read issue two of this series. I find Maurice and the Metal to be very relatable in many ways. A lot of what Maurice is going through is reflective of my own life. I feel right at home reading this comic. Now if only I could get my own music-based superpowers I would be all set. Until that happens, I will keep reading Maurice and the Metal.
Where To Find Maurice And The Metal
Purchase Maurice And The Metal #1 On Comixology
Maurice And The Metal’s Official Website
Maurice And The Metal On Instagram