Armored #1 [Advance Review]
Life is hard when you’re 13…and it turns out stumbling upon a haunted suit of medieval armor doesn’t make it much easier.
Written by screenwriter Michael Schwartz (Gnome Alone, RL Stine’s Zombie Town) and illustrated by Ismael Hernandez, Armored tells the story of Andy - a 13 year old boy who was placed in the foster system after his parent’s mysterious disappearance a number of years prior. We’re also introduced to the Mr. and Mrs. Collins, who turn to adoption two years after the tragic death of their son, Myles. With the intention to adopt, they bring Andy into their home.
They are warned that while Andy is generally well-behaved, he has an investigative streak which sometimes lands him in trouble. Indeed, Andy learns a bit more about the nature of Myles’ death on his first day of school, centered around the mysterious castle located just outside of town. It doesn’t take long before he commits to doing some investigating of his own. In doing so he stumbles across an interesting artifact: a coat of arms that has a button in the center. Activating the device summons a suit of medieval armor…and along with it, a very confused spirit named Sir William.
William attempts to acclimate Andy to the suit, while also trying to get his bearings in the modern world. The unlikely partnership is tested by the arrival of a malevolent force…and sets them on a compelling quest.
I first met Michael over the weekend while attending WonderCon 2024. He was eagerly connecting with creators and talent about this book, which was launched via Kickstarter just a couple of months ago. The project, he explained, was initially brought about after his childhood collection of comics was stolen, leading him to want to contribute to the hobby that was such a big part of his life. Schwartz, having written notable screenplays in the past, decided that this story would be best told via the medium of comics. Thus, Armored was born.
Armored is a delightful blend of Goosebumps and Gargoyles: a distinct gothic horror aesthetic with some spooky elements that are dialed back just enough for young adults to jump in. The dialogue is approachable, and smacks of Saturday morning cartoons: particularly the over-the-top medieval mannerisms of Sir William. Andy is depicted as guarded (for good reason), but we see some of those defenses begin to slowly melt away near the end of the first issue.
The interiors by Hernandez are striking, and echo the classic approach of Sir William; he implements various watercolor and inking techniques in his art style, which ultimately creates a unique aesthetic.
While you may miss out on some of the cool variant covers, having not backed the original campaign, you should be able to ask your local comic shop to get these books on order from Clover Press, and keep your eyes open for a potential follow-up campaign.
On the whole, Armored #1 is wonderfully charming, and engrossing: it sets the stage for a youthful tale of discovery that may seem very similar to our own grand fantasies of adventure from when we were young. Don’t miss it!
