Plot: CQ is a street solider for a powerful gang in Los Angeles. Lately he's found his plate a little full, being sent out for a hit, a kidnapping, and helping his estranged sister's husband out of a serious debt against a rival gang. But CQ might have bigger problems than the cops and rival gangs. Bringing down his own crew may be the challenge that brings the cool CQ to his knees.

Comments: BOOM! Studios continues to impress. They've gotten themselves one hell of a writer to bring to the table one hell of a comic. Gary Phillips, who's no stranger to hard crime drama (check out Bangers), has put together a great first chapter to what could be one of the best crime stories of the year -- books, TV, and movies included. The excerpt from The Book of the Samurai in the beginning is a wonderful introduction to our anti-hero CQ, a warrior who is a balance of strength and smarts. CQ is a good anti-hero, maybe not the most memorable, but he's still someone you can root for. There is good action on both ends of the story; it opens with a suicide and ends with a shooting. What more could you want from an inner city crime drama? Drugs? Check. Sex? Got some of that, too. Not to mention appearances by strippers, guns, blood, and gambling debt.

The penciling is clean, but nothing fancy. The coloring is certainly nothing special, rather flat at points, like it was done on MS Paint. The lettering could have been a lot better; it looked amateur and was distracting. If the lettering was intended to add a gritty feel, it failed. Slapped onto the page is what it felt and looked like, almost like cut and paste. Hopefully the lettering doesn't hinder the overall enjoyment of readers. The cover art by Brett Weldele is fantastic; which might leave readers wishing the interior art was that good. Brett's work is something that shouldn't be ignored, and is what will most likely get people's attention from the comic rack.

Artwork complaints aside, High Rollers is a good comic. BOOM! Studios could potentially have Hollywood knocking on their door again. Two thumbs up to Gary Phillips -- awesome. Here's hoping the remaining issues are just as good or better.

Final Word: Good, very good. If you liked BOOM! Studios' Hunter's Moon, then you'll like this. Pick up a copy.

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