COMIC BOOK REVIEW: All New Executive Assistant: Iris #1
Aspen Comics brings us the latest of its “10 for 10″ comic books, All New Executive Assistant: Iris #1. It says “all new” but it’s actually a continuation and not a reboot, but no worries since readers could just jump right in and enjoy the sexy butt-kicking assassins in the comic.
Executive Assistant Iris is undeniably talented whether it’s being a secretary, bodyguard or an assassin. We even get a background review to cover her tragic past and her growth into one deadly agent. In this issue, she’s looking for a new employer and she gets to be one of the finalists to be the executive assistant to Maly Ang, the head of one of the largest companies dealing with agricultural chemicals. There Iris gets toe-to-toe with another finalist, Snapdragon and both sexy ladies try to land that coveted spot.
Brian Buccellato makes it easy for new blood to get started with the title. He made the introduction look easy with the narrative on Iris’ origins, from being a Dickensian Orphan from Wuhan, China to becoming the ultra-loyal, ultra-deadly bodyguard. The author also made sure that our lead would stand out from the rest, like how she had that different air when she appeared for her job interview and intimidating the other applicants,or how she handled the jests of her competition, or like how things went in that corporate meeting she and Snapdragon attended together with Ang, where things got pretty nasty but we’re left with a clear image of what kind of Executive Assistant Iris really is. Plus, Buccellato’s able to leave us an idea of how Iris career would work in the future and how her relationship with her employer would be.
As for the sexy and deadly part, Pasquale Qualano got that down. When I say sexy, I’m talking about provocative pin-up style sexy where each page’s got Iris, Snapdragon and Ang showcasing whatever they’re blessed with. I’m not really sure how I would describe Qualano’s style, his work looks clean and simple but I say he’s given that effort to lay down the allure of the characters. If the panel wants the girls to look seductive, then they look seductive. If it’s action, you got that serving of action with the swordplay and knife fights and bullet dodging.
However, it’s also the visuals that made me step back a little from this comic book. At first look it’s all interesting and seductive but a few flips more and it just got tiring (and to to think I’d see myself get tired of looking at sexy pin-ups, now that’s new). Over sexualization just doesn’t work for me, especially if those pouty lips and jutted-out hips or butts or boobies get in the way not only of the action but also the characters. Assassins posing ala Victoria’s Angels on catwalk during a catfight looks weird, and terribly wrong. That’s why we have artbooks and extra pages, so that artists wouldn’t have to fill the pages with characters posing for the camera instead of doing what they’re supposed to be doing in the story.
The story might’ve not given that big impact but it sure has piqued my interest. It’s an opening issue afterall so the pace’s bound to pickup and more depth would be unravelled soon. However, as for the art, I wish our folks in Aspen would reconsider the look that they want for the Executive Assistant. Sexy ladies with voluptous bodies are great, but I want to read about Iris the Executive Assistant and not Iris the model or porn actress. If that were the case, I could’ve grabbed some Japanese hentai comic instead. This time I’d be checking out what’s next because of the story so I hope the art would help out in the next issue.
Review Score:
6/10
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