Warning: Potential Spoilers Ahead
So for awhile now I’ve been wanting to read something from AWA but just never had a chance too until I had a little extra money and happened to see Al Madrigal/Felipe Flores/AWA Upshot’s first volume of Primos on TikTok. The summary got me hooked and so after a few days’ wait, it was in my mail box, yay! Of course, it took me a few days longer to get around to reading it for this and that reason but when I did? I didn’t want to stop whatsoever until I finished and was left wanting more. Sure, I felt the pace was a bit fast but given this is a trade and sometimes life happens rather fast before one can catch their breath, I still really enjoyed this book and it just would make sense for things to be fast paced. Even if I did find it kinda odd that any swearing was censored given the more violent scenes of this book.
Sure, Ricky Pascal (our main Primo) is a 17 year old teenager, but he’s not exactly a role model of purity. Tho I have to admit, I do love his narrative dialogue through out the book as it can be rather descriptive as he and his newfound Cousins (Primos) meet, get to know one another, learn some other things, and deal with a pissed off Mayan from back in the day all at the same time. And some might think Mayans being able to build a spaceship way back in the day is a little unbelievable but come on, this is comic books! Where anything and everything is possible and two Mayan brothers meeting Aliens with a plan of some sort for Unity and Rainbows is just part of that bit of fun. Tho Janaab’s more than likely definitely wishing he hadn’t brought his brother Kan with him, the pissed off Mayan I mentioned earlier.
Familia In Action!
And why is he pissed off you wonder? Well… Due to a mishap with their ship’s navigation when on their way back to Earth after meeting the Aliens and others like them chosen for the whole Unity and Rainbows thing, Janaab and Kan end up in the modern day version of Earth. Where their people are essentially lonnng gone and Kan? He’s definitely the more upset of the two and isn’t quite willing to leave things be. Culminating in some brotherly issues and a plan to do some major damage. Which leads to Janaab having to recruit some Familia in the form of the Pascals. Young Ricky (essentially labeling himself as Dumbledore), Javier the Master Spy, and Gina, whom Ricky affectionately refers to as the Chicana Gal Gadot.
Which… Given she’s willing to put the smackdown on some racist cops to get good folk across the border (tho there’s a lot more to it than that) and isn’t exactly someone you want to piss off? I can totally see that. Each have their respective skills that Janaab helps bring to the forefront outside of what they already have (tho Ricky doesn’t exactly have a whole lot outside of gaming skills) and even works on a type of synergy that all 3 benefit from when they are together. Latino Heat, baby! Interestingly enough, there’s also kind of a theme running through out the book where Brotherhood (and even sisterhood) is concerned. Janaab and Kan, Ricky and his younger brother Lorenzo, and Javier’s not so law abiding brother.
And given what happens to Pascal boys’ mother towards the end of this first volume… I can definitely see some future conflict occurring between the two boys. Which one can only hope won’t go the way of Janaab and Kan!
I am very curious/excited to see what Al and Felipe have in store next for the Pascal Family and if Kan will make another appearance. Will the Pascals have an easy time of recruiting other family members? Or will it prove to be rather difficult? Who knows! But I can’t wait to find out!
Editor’s Note: Head here to get yourself a copy of Primos! Which is also available in Spanish!
And if you want to show off your support for Comics & Chill, we’ve now got a merch store over at Bonfire!
Primos Vol. 1
AWA Upshot
Co-Creators: Al Madrigal & Felipe Flores
Writer: Al Madrigal
Artist: Carlo Barberi
Colorist: Brian Reber
Letterer: Andworld Design
Summary: Centuries ago, two Mayan brothers constructed a spacecraft that sent them hurtling into outer space. Returned to Earth, only to find their culture and civilization destroyed, one of the brothers vows revenge and seeks to decimate the planet with intergalactic technology gathered on his travels. To prevent this, his sibling creates a contingency plan that activates the world’s protectors – descendants of their own Pacal family. Now, the fate of the planet lies in the hands of three cousins scattered throughout Central and North America who have never even met.
