Junk Punch #1 is written by Paul Tobin and published by Mad Cave Studios. Artwork is by Carlos Javier Olivares, colours by Francesca Vivaldi and letters by Taylor Esposito. Main cover art (left) is by Carlos Javier Olivares.
Junk Punch #1 is available from today, in comic book stores and on digital platforms where all good comic books are sold. Grab your physical copy from Forbidden Planet or digitally from Amazon Comixology UK.
Synopsis
In a near-future world, peculiar new compulsions have arisen to afflict individuals in bizarre ways, such as a need to paint all pigeons pink or the unfortunate craving to tell the truth on dating apps. One such individual is Clara Castanelle, aka Junk Punch, who “suffers” an addiction to punching people square in their junk!
Review
Junk Punch…yes, that is the title of the comic, and it is as literal as titles can get. This strange creation, courtesy of Paul Tobin and Carlos Javier Olivares, is one that needs little to no explanation going in. I mean, the title is self-explanatory anyway, and the comic itself just takes it and runs with it.
If it wasn’t obvious from the title and cover art, this is a series that doesn’t hold back and essentially does whatever it wants. From Clara’s inherent urge to punch people in the nether regions to the wacky character names and dialogue, the writing from Tobin is a mixture of both tongue-in-cheek and crass humour, which is present in every panel and is very much exaggerated by Clara and her actions. There are moments of vulnerability, but even those are short-lived, making way for visual gags or one-off puns aplenty.
However, the real thing that will grab your attention here is Carlos Javier Olivares’ artwork. The half-anime, half-cyberpunk aesthetic effortlessly fits the story as it, too, is over-the-top in execution. Francesca Vivaldi adds extra life to the art with contrasting, neon-drenched colours that pop from the page at every opportunity. The combination of Olivares and Vivaldi’s work here creates a lived-in yet cartoonish world that feels fantastical as it is grounded. These visual choices make the otherwise obnoxious elements a lot more palatable for readers and enjoyable on the whole.
On top of the colourful art and over-the-top hijinks, the majority of this comic’s personality and bravado comes from Clara as a protagonist. The way in which she handles things and talks to others is fast and scatterbrained, framing her more as an unreliable lead than an unreliable narrator. One minute, she could be laser-focused on the task at hand, and the next, she could be offering the idea of an orgy to everyone at a local bar…which is exactly something she does later in the issue. Seeing her navigate these situations, converse with strangers and, of course, punch people in the privates, is where the writing truly shines.
Similar to another 2026 title, Spirit of the Shadows, this is a series that feels genuinely refreshing as it sees its writers and artists pushing their creativity to the max in bold and unique ways, even if some ideas are more successful than others.
Junk Punch is exactly the type of comic its title suggests. Each page is brimming with a boisterous, unfiltered personality that is either going to charm or grate on readers, depending on their preferences. This is a series that doesn’t just come out of the gate swinging; it crashes through the gate on a quad bike, being as absurd, loud, and horny as it wants to be.
Verdict
This is a bizarre comic that delivers on hyper-energy, bright colours and an over-the-top sense of humour that some may find hit or miss. Take the style and attitude of Tank Girl, mash it with the futuristic setting of Blade Runner, and sprinkle the crude comedy of Deadpool on top for good measure, and you have Junk Punch. If that sounds like your thing, then you’ll have a blast.
⭐⭐⭐.5
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