A Man Among Ye #1 Review

by Carlos R. on June 17, 2020

A Man Among Ye #1 Cover Image
Written by: Stephanie Phillips
Art by: Craig Cermak
Colors by: Brittany Pezzillo
Lettered by: Troy Peteri
Publisher: Image Comics/ Top Cow Productions

If you’re one to be swept up in the score from Pirates of the Carribean or if you’ve ever felt the sea call out to you for adventure, A Man Among Ye is a definite pick up! This series attempts to tell the tale of the lives of pirates Anne Bonny, Captain “Calico Jack” Rackham, and Mary Read; along with them, we also follow English war hero out to end the rebellious pirates, Woodes Rogers.

The series opens at the start of a battle between two ships, one belonging to the infamous Captain Calico Jack. The story immediately shows us that it is not for the faint of heart and we’re going to get into the gritty life of a pirate. Though the characters are based on real people, their histories and adventures are not completely known. Stephanie Phillips and company instead gather these larger than life characters to shed light on the life, troubles, and freedom that came with a life of piracy.

Phillips is the key ingredient to this series’ success, it’s easy to feel the love she has for not only Anne Bonny, but for the pirate life. The story is gruesomely fun, it’s interesting to see the setup of the protagonist’s roles and how their crew view them. We get a real sense for their character through these other points of views.

The cover to the book is nice and highlights the significance of Anne Bonny in this series by muting the characters around her, but in doing so dulls the cover. The opening page is beautifully contrasted by the transition from the cover. Opening with a splash page of two ships and the opening fire is a great choice to draw in the reader. Cermak and Pezzillo paint a scenic view of the battle and the brutality is highlight by Peteri’s sound effects. The team establishes an even pace throughout the story and the fight scene are easy to follow and frame the protagonists, especially Anne Bonny, in grand manner.

If you love pirates, Stephanie Phillips has written the book for you. Filled with an admiration of the characters and brilliant artwork you’d have to be a real landlubber to pass on this series.
 

Our Score:

8/10

A Look Inside