Script by: Ollie Masters
Art by: Lucas Werneck
Colours by: Joana Lafuente
Letters by: Ed Dukeshire
Cover by: Luca Pizzari
Published by: BOOM! Studios
Gemma and Clay Face a Family Crisis in Sons Of Anarchy: Redwood Original #11
Sons of Anarchy was an American crime drama created by Kurt Sutter, airing on FX from 2008 to 2014. It followed the lives of a close-knit 1% motorcycle club, Sons of Anarchy, Redwood Original (SAMCRO), operating in a fictional town called Charming in California’s San Joaquin Valley. The show centered on Jackson “Jax” Teller, initially the VP and stepson of the President, Clay Morrow.
Brotherhood, loyalty, and redemption are constant themes throughout the show’s six seasons. Most of the storylines revolve around Jax’ attempts to reconcile his personal life, club business, and living up to the legacy of his father, John “JT” Teller. Most of the conflict on the show was between Jax and his stepfather Clay, who was JT’s best friend (while sleeping with JT’s wife behind his back and plotting to murder him and take over the MC).
Sons of Anarchy: Redwood Original is set up as a prequel to the television show, back when Jax was a lowly prospect. Jax’ best friend Opie, also a son of one of the First Nine, has chosen the college route rather than ride with his old man in the club. All the favorites from the TV show are here in the comic series, and since it’s a prequel, you can be assured that Chibs, Tig, Opie, Clay, Piney, and Bobby “Elvis” Munson, won’t be killed off.
Five Hundred Thousand in Four Days or Blondie Gets a Bullet
In the current storyline, leading into Sons of Anarchy: Redwood Original #11, Jax got himself kidnapped while going rogue in a desperate attempt to gain Clay’s respect. His captors, a group of Israeli Mafia-backed ecstasy dealers, try to cash in on Jax’ Club lineage to extort the MC for half a million dollars.
What this group of halfwits isn’t counting on is the lengths Clay and Gemma will go to find Jax and punish the people responsible for his disappearance. Clay sets up a meet with The Biker With No Name in order to get the info that will lead to Jax’ rescue. If only it were that easy…
Ollie Masters consulted heavily with Kurt Sutter prior to penning the first issue of this series. He has a good feel for the characters, dialing them back a decade in maturity and experience from when we first saw them on FX. His dialogue and interactions between club members, the public, law enforcement, and rival Clubs feels genuine and honest.
There have been a couple of art team changes since SAMCRO #1, and I have to say, the current art team is my favorite thus far. While there was nothing inherently wrong with the art on the first several issues, I just wasn’t feeling it. The likenesses were close enough, but not nearly on the same level Lucas Werneck is currently operating. The color choices by Joana Lafuente are also hitting for me much better than the purples and pinks of the first several issues. Nothing screams “ruthless outlaw biker” like a turquoise jacket over a pink shirt.
Kurt Sutter has two new shows in the works based off the success of the first Sons series. Sons of Anarchy: Redwood Original is a great place to get your fix while waiting for The Mayans and The First Nine to get off the ground.
Overall: 8/10
Brendan Allen has probably had more jobs than you would reasonably believe. Dog trainer? He’s done it. Flooring contractor? Yep! EMT? Army NBC specialist? Road dog for a Celtic rock band? Yes, yes, and och aye! Now he reads comics and writes about them.
