RAWSISTAZ Review of The Bodyrock by M. Torez

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Reviewed: Mar 31, 2006

The Bodyrock by M. Torez
Type Illy Press LLC, October 2005
28 Pages, Paperback, $3.25
ISBN:
Genre: Comic

RAW Rating: 4.5 (out of 5)

Power & Friendships...

Written and illustrated by M. Torez, THE BODYROCK sets the stage for Wildchild, his upcoming comic series. Torez introduces readers to his company, Type Illy Press, which he defines as a new company with a focus on producing work that is hip-hop with an urban flair. I am impressed with the fact alone that Torez is showcasing both females and African-Americans in key roles in his comic books. I enjoyed the time with the cast of characters and am excited about the potential of developing them into future spin-offs, covering a myriad of themes, issues, and even controversial topics. But, back to THE BODYROCK . . .

Farrwood Academy was once touted as a prestigious institute of learning, but once it is mandated to open its doors to metakids, poor non-human students with superpowers, things start to change. Unfortunately, the upperclassmen don't take too well to this and they create an air of superiority which causes major problems for the establishment.

THE BODYROCK introduces a group of girls, well-known on campus, who call themselves Hot Five. They stand up for each other and have
each other's back.

When Tory's childhood friend Desmond aka Dezzie is admitted to the school, she is excited to reunite with him, yet upon greeting him, realizes that something isn't right with Dezzie. He has grown up from the little boy she used to babysit and has the ability to morph into various replicas, with discerning qualities. Dezzie felt abandoned when Tory left the old neighborhood and instead of a friendly greeting, he demands Tory give up something he wants, or he'll tell the entire school things about her that he doesn't think anyone else knows. What follows is a shocking, mind-blowing, and twisted climax -- all revolving around the power that one person can have over another.

With THE BODYROCK, I enjoyed Torez's ability to showcase the dynamics behind the characters, how they came to be, and how they handle the situations they find themselves in -- especially the pressures teens face. Showcasing female characters is also a plus in that most comics only show the fairer sex in supporting, sometimes "weak" roles. I loved the girls in THE BODYROCK, even though I wouldn't necessarily applaud some of their actions.

My only complaint is that the story is in black and white. With so many things going on, color would more accurately display the emotions of the characters, their actions, the visual effect of their powers and what's actually going on. In some scenes it wasn't clear during the first read what was taking place.

The comic is real and vividly shows the support system most school-age kids have, their mentality on various issues, and the culturally diverse environment in which we live. Ending in what may be controversial to some readers, THE BODYROCK shakes things up a bit and I look forward to the next comic -- the first in the Wildchild series -- to find out more about Hot Five and the other cast of characters from Farrwood High.

Reviewed by Tee C. Royal, RAWSISTAZ.com
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Tee C. Royal is a freelance reader, reviewer, and proofreader residing in the suburbs of Atlanta. She is also the founder of RAWSISTAZ Literary Group and its subsidiaries.

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