Retrovirus HC [Hardcover]

Background: Zoe Wallace is offered the job of a lifetime right after a depressing time in her life, only to realize that said dream job is just as horrible as everything else. Retrovirus focuses on long extinct Neanderthals and the viruses they once carried.

Review: I saw the cover for this graphic novel on Netgalley and scooped it up to read, I figured it would have a strong female character busting ass and taking names...well sort of. Zoe started off awesome, not taking crap from anyone, then it turned into the traditional sexualized female of comics. There was even a few boobie jokes here and there, now don't get me wrong boobie jokes can be funny, but it really took away from the strong female they portrayed in the beginning. The story line was interesting and a little predictable, but overall good and entertaining. Very graphic in the violence department.

Copy received as an EBook from the publisher and Netgalley for review purposes.

I've read Justin Gray's work teamed with Jimmy Palmiotti before and with this graphic novel, they are at their best. The art by Norberto Fernandez is intricate and beautiful. A major pharmaceutical company called Bio-Pharm offers a brilliant young scientist named Zoe a job at their isolated laboratory in Antarctica.
As she enters she notices that the facility is well guarded by professional mercenaries. Zoe is impressed with the team she will be working with and is shocked to see the specimens when they are revealed to her. But there is a major catch. The company is working with a deadly virus being developed for war. There are many loose cannons here and I won't reveal some major tricks the company has up it's sleeve.
This is one of the best graphic novels I have read in a long time. Not for the faint of heart! I'm glad I found it on Amazon.

Recommended!

So, by now you know I am quite biased towards the work of Jimmy and Justin. This is for good reason - they are my favorite storytellers.

Now, with that out of the way, why should YOU pick up this book?

Here is a list of the top 5 reasons I would pick this book up, if I were you:

*The Story - Jimmy and Justin are well known for their prolific storytelling. This book adds to their wonderful library of work. It is a bit different, though - it takes us away from the superhero, western, vigilante, war and most every other genre we are used to seeing... Reminiscent of Jurassic Park, The Relic, Mimic and other 90s Sci-Fi Horror, this story takes us into a world that is not so different than our own. In fact, who is to say projects, like the one depicted in the book, aren't fully funded and underway? That prospect, and the way this story unfolds make for an intriguing tale which should be taken more as a warning to the scientific community - Some things should be left alone...

*The Art - Norberto Fernandez does a fantastic job with the detail, facial expressions, scale, and of course blood and gore this story needed to be successful.

*The Cover - Amanda Conner. Nuff' Said.

*The Price - Retail Cover Price: $12.99 USD. That is a steal for a HC. Hell, it is a steal for Amanda's cover art bound into a beautiful book.

*The Community - This book was funded by the community. This, like other books from Jimmy and Justin, started as a Kickstarter project. It was fully funded and now is a reality. If nothing else, support the fact that this kind of content creation is possible. Who knows, someday you may want your ideas to land at your Local Comic Shop... this type of project continues to pave the way for just that opportunity.

*BONUS Reason! - Creator Owned - If you read my reviews, you know that I am 100% behind Creator Owned work. Creator Owned = Inspiration. We call can use some inspiration from time to time...

So, there you have it. I hope you enjoy this book.