Reviews: A critical look at SMASH
The Webcomic Alliance (Pick of the Week):
[A] wonderfully fresh and exciting superhero online comic that speaks to the imagination and excitement for superheroes in us all….For a fun online comic that reminds us of those dreams of being superheroes when we were kids, and a fun all ages comic that mixes both action and comedy, look no further than Smash.
Smash is simply one of the best family, all ages books in ANY medium. The storytelling is absolutely fantastic….Smash has the reader believing that kids can be superheroes, and the world is a better place for it.
[Smash] is an excellent example of a webcomic which engages and entertains young minds….This is exactly the kind of title that can open up the world of comics to young kids. And its audience is growing steadily.
Shawn Gustafson, The Specialists:
In a comics landscape that has become increasingly dark and angsty as the average reader has aged, Smash is refreshingly light and whimsical. To put it simply, it’s just fun. The art by Kyle Bolton is reminiscent of cartoon animation, with super-expressive faces and a bright palette. The writing, by Kyle’s brother Chris, is fast-paced and funny. Best of all, it’s an all-ages comic. It’s kid-friendly, but not dumbed-down so that adults can’t enjoy it.
SMASH has a loose-limbed, gleefully frenetic style to the art (not unlike Skottie Young‘s work on the OZ adaptations at Marvel) and a breakneck pace to the story, as befits a 10 year old that suddenly finds himself all supered-up.
[A] cut above the rest….[T]he art is good, the writing is good, and the storyline adapts well to the webcomic format….If it follows the lead of such other successful webcomics as Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Jellaby in print form, I will be well pleased.
Coyote Trax’s Webcomics Critique:
[S]uperbly written….Smash is a fan-frickin’-tastic comic and I recommend you read it today….This isn’t just another superhero story, it’s much more than that.
I can’t recommend this comic enough. I read all of Season 1 in one sitting and I was hooked by the end of it, truly and triumphantly. Smash won me over like no other web comic before it has….A truly wonderful story with so much potential, it’s bursting at the seams.
Brigid Alverson, Robot 6:
The opening chapters are notable for some very funny sequences in which Andrew, our hero, has to master his superpowers; there’s a lot of slapstick, and it turns out the ability to fly is a mixed blessing if you’re afraid of heights.
A fun and addictive romp…stunningly cool….One of the best all ages comics on the web. From its awesome illustrations to its genuine voice, Smash hits all the right notes.
[The] sympathetic balance of superhero problems and kid problems makes Smash relatable without being pandering, leavening pre-teen angst with plenty of fight scenes, explosions, and near-disastrous heroics.
[W]onderfully entertaining!
[A] perfect mesh of art, story, and character that has been missing from the mainstream for a while now. It literally smashes the age gap found with most cape books, as it can be enjoyed by preteens to old codgers like me.
[T]he creative team of Chris and Kyle Bolton are putting out a quality comic here. The art looks like one part Calvin and Hobbes to one part Marvel Comics, and it’s dynamic and well-detailed.
Smash is simply a fun comic with a good balance of action, humour, and a nice level of seriousness to it. The art has a lot of character and the action scenes are really fun.
The art is awesome. Just cartoony enough for younger kids, but something adults will enjoy [as] well. The writing is great….Super-villains, scientists, bullies — all that one could ever ask in a web comic.
I always find it surprising that such little things like a fear of heights or a smudgy pencil line separate a supers comic from being above average to being noteworthy. And a good villain will always promote a comic to a higher plane of respectability. It will be fun to see where [Smash] goes in later seasons.
There were a lot of funny parts in the comic which made it a lot of fun to read….I liked the art in this comic a lot. It was like a cartoon. (Rating: 9/10)
Steve Duin, The Oregonian:
Brothers Chris and Kyle Bolton have uncorked “Smash,” an entertaining and unassuming web-comic….[T]here’s a particularly amiable feel to the web-comic, which winks at most of the conventions of the medium….It’s an auspicious opening for the Northwest pair.
I’m not much of a superhero fan — yes, the genre has gotten too dark for me — but I love this sort of comic, where a kid acquires superpowers and has to learn how to use his newfound skills and make the necessary mental adjustments as well. It’s been done before, but Chris and Kyle Bolton do it very well in Smash…
Wow! What can I not say about this great comic….I read the whole first season and it’s one of my favorite comics….It’s action packed, and a great read for adults or children. Every issue I read had me craving [the next one]. The details of the characters draw the reader in. I really want to talk more about the story, but you have to read this comic and find out on your own.
Scott Smith, bestselling author of A Simple Plan and The Ruins:
I checked out Smash, with great enjoyment. The storytelling is so bracingly clean and efficient, and I liked the artwork, too….I think you’re continuing to do a fantastic job with it.
David Benioff, author of The 25th Hour and writer/producer of Game of Thrones:
Great job. I’m hooked!
Vote for Smash here