Independent comics and punk rock are a natural fit for each other. Both use highly experimental styles to convey anti-establishment themes. It's no surprise, then, that the two worlds have crossed over so frequently. While comics like Tank Girl and Umbrella Academy have achieved a level of mainstream success, punk rock hasn't been popular in comic books for some time. With the release of Terminal Punks #1, indie publisher Mad Cave Studios brings punk rock back with all its anarchy and bombast intact.
From writer Matthew Erman and artist Shelby Criswell, Terminal Punks is about an unnamed punk rock band trapped in an impossible situation. Consisting of drummer Kee, bassist Sway, guitarist Burton, and singer Dharby, the group is on their way to a big gig in New York that could make or break their band. Unfortunately, just as they land at the airport, something is off. People are disappearing rapidly and the doors out of the airport are locked.
In between time spent with the band, the comic shows readers what's really happening at the airport. Unbeknownst to the band, a shipment of unstable mutated animals has been shipped to the airport and all of them broke loose. It's not clear exactly how, but the businessman importing the animals seems to hint that these monstrosities will all produce new flavors for vape pens. Just as the band finally realizes what's happening, they find themselves directly in the path of a hulking orangutan named Lady Marmalade. After bifurcating an airport employee, the monster notices the protagonists, ending the issue.
Much like the music that clearly inspired it, Terminal Punks wears its themes on its sleeve. The businessman behind everything, Hart Kelsey, is almost cartoonish in his disregard for safety and human life. While the vape monstrosities are obviously the protagonists' biggest threat, Terminal Punks makes it clear from just this issue alone that the true villain is the system that allows such creatures to be made for profit.
Fortunately, Erman leaves room for people amidst all the chaos and anarchy. Kee is the story's narrator and she feels like a unique main character for this sort of story. While punk rock-inspired comics have often focused on wish-fulfillment characters like Tank Girl, Kee is a grounded protagonist who suffers from anxiety. This anxiety is hardly the story's focus, but it is present enough that it will probably be explored in later issues. The playlist shown on the last page dedicated to conveying Kee's mental state is also a fun addition that conveys a great deal of character.
The rest of the cast mostly works, with the only roadblock being Dharby. Dharby is only in the band because of her musician father's connections and this leaves her as the least sympathetic member of the main cast. She complains more than a few times and is generally unpleasant. While this might be a slight annoyance, it is hard to say this is a bad aspect, as this is intentional and probably set up for character exploration in later issues. Helping the action and anarchy is Criswell's artwork. The monsters all look like they could be on the cover of a punk album and the character designs are expressive enough to be relatable.
Overall, Terminal Punks is an impressive first issue. If you're looking for a punk rock comic with endearing characters and something to say, you can't do much better than Terminal Punks #1. The book is in comic shops in November!