(originally posted on tumblr)

BOUNCE! is comic strip about a Whovian, metalhead, Nietzsche quoting, Mass Effect addicted Blerd…who just happens to be a bouncer. BOUNCE! sprung from the mind of Chuck Collins and his company Rat Ronin Studios, which just published the strip in a stand alone volume called BOUNCE! First Round of Shots.

Characters

The Bouncer grew up in Flatbush, Brooklyn and trained extensively in martial arts. Despite his size, he’s relatively harmless, unless you’re a racist, entitled B&T (bridge and tunnel) who lays your hands on a woman or likes to start bar fights. He also like blues, funk and death metal in equal measure.

Yemaya is the Bouncer’s childhood friend. They met at a comic book store and she is solely responsible for introducing him to Doctor Who. She’s a huge fan of Octavia Butler and 90’s R&B, and hates people who can’t think for themselves, like “natural frauds”.

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The Bar

The Bar is based on a real-life bar that Collins worked at in the Bleeker St. area of New York City. The Bar acts as a proscenium stage for the nightly activities that the Bouncer and Yemaya narrate. Collins brilliantly uses this theater to make social commentary on current events, social injustice, music and even video games.

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The Story

BOUNCE! follows a comicstrip format, so each story is usually told within 4 panels with it’s own title. The exception is Whiskey Wednesdays, which are usually full page commentaries on current events or a reference to something that took place in a previous strip. The only arc in the first BOUNCE! volume is when he meets and falls in love with his girlfriend Sunflower. Their relationship changes him and in turn affects everyone around him.

Much of BOUNCE! centers around day-in-the-life moments, but Collins uses everything from obscure Pantera lyrics, political quotes and even Dragon Ball Z references to create a truly unique atmosphere in his stories. Collins’ New York is a melange of ethnicities, classes, preferences and personalities that represent real life in the city, (not the whitewashed media version that no one really ever sees).

He addresses what it means to be Black and young, white and privileged, and everything in between, which is why sometimes even the most mundane conversations in BOUNCE! can end up with hilarious consequences and “teachable” moments.

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If you’ve read any of my reviews, you know I’m a fan of strong female characters and Yemaya does NOT disappoint. Part wing woman, part sounding board: not only is she smart and witty with a low tolerance for BS, but Yemaya can also hold her own against some of the crazy patrons that walk through the door.

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What I Think

BOUNCE! First Round of Shots is definitely a comic for ages 16 and over because of strong language and some mild violence. There is no nudity, however there is sexual content in some of the dialogue. The artwork is tight, the lettering is clear and the dialogue is hilarious as well as thought-provoking.

The other awesome thing about BOUNCE! First Round of Shots is that it’s a full 75 pages long. In the age of 10 page digital comics selling for $5.00, it’s nice to actually feel like you’re getting more for your money (In fact, PeepGame is currently selling the digital copy of BOUNCE! First Round of Shots for $2.99, so you REALLY have no excuse not to pick it up).

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Not only did Chuck Collins write, draw, letter and shade BOUNCE! First Round of Shots himself, he posts the comic 3 times a week on the BOUNCE! Comic tumblr page as well as his Facebook page and Twitter accounts.

FOR FREE.

BOUNCE! is a witty comic strip that addresses social issues as well as day-to-day problems with equal amounts of truth and sarcasm. What Collins can do in four panels is more than what most artists can pull off in four pages. If you’re used to graphic novels and TPBs (that tend to be longer), don’t be put off by the smaller, comic strip format.

Trust me, it’s bigger on the inside.

BUY BOUNCE! First Round of Shots DIGITAL DOWNLOAD from PeepGame HERE

UPDATE! BUY BOUNCE First Round of Shots PRINT ED from Comic Flea Market HERE

BOUNCE! Comic is updated every Monday, Wednesday and Friday on tumblr and Facebook