I'm always pleased to see new companies enter the bloody fray of comics publishing, especially when their work comes with high production values like the ones to be found on Rogues! and Dark Planet's other initial release, 2 to the Chest. I'm even happier when the production values are matched by stories that can stand up to the strongest that the mainstream and small press have to offer, and in that regard, Rogues! falls a bit short. It's a fantasy/thief story in the classic Conan vein, and it does have an infectious sense of fun, but it also has an extremely gratuitous use of female nudity and some clunky dialogue that makes it feel aimed at a teenage audience that, in these days of post-Superbowl boobery, probably won't be allowed to buy it. If by some chance you're a teenage fantasy fan with permissive parents, you should definitely give Rogues! a look, but I'm afraid that adult fans of Conan might find the material here a little unsophisticated for their tastes.
Which is not to say that Rogues! doesn't have its charms. In fact, I quite like the camaraderie and bickering that goes on between Weasel and Bram, the female and male rogues who give the book its title. While it sometimes feels a little cliched and sometimes deliberately anachronistic (a particular pet peeve of mine when it comes to fantasy in general, unless it's done very well), there's definitely a sense that Torres knows who these characters are and knows their relationship. There's a sense of history between these two characters, and the reader very quickly gets the idea of the lifestyle that these two characters lead.
In fact, Rogues! also has a fun sense of humor. It's a tad overplayed, as when Torres lets the "Duke Clavius" joke early on repeat too many times, but I also like the lighter touch that Torres brings to the proceedings. In fact, the book is almost too light in some respects, and Torres's light tone actually makes it read more like a comedy than it probably should. Especially since the laughs are more chuckles than belly laughs, the book would stand stronger if there were more actual dangers, as opposed to enemies who are generally made to look like buffoons. The tendency to hit punchlines is one of the problems with Rogues!, but another is the necessity for a few more beat panels or a little more looseness to the dialogue. The lines often feel like they're running together, coming on too fast, and it is a constant reminder that you're reading a story, rather than drawing you into the story with dialogue that feels a little more natural, or at least has a better rhythm.
Probably my largest complaint about the book, though (no pun intended here), are Weasel's enormous and mostly naked boobs. As a guy, I've got no problem with naked boobs, of course, but the way Ryp never fails to draw the nipples peeking through or just outside Weasel's shirt, and the way she appears naked most of the time, feels more than a little gratuitous. Combined with the overuse of humor, it makes the book feel a tad adolescent in its approach. Which is a shame, because otherwise Ryp's art is terrific. There's spectacular detail in his backgrounds, and though his characters have an overmuscled, exaggerated look reminiscent of the work of Bart Sears or even some of the early Image guys, they're still pretty solidly designed. Miguel Castillo's colors are likewise bright but perfectly shaded, and especially impressive in some of the detailed crowd scenes.
Even though I'm in something of a mood for this kind of thing lately, given my growing fondness for Conan, Rogues! failed to hit the mark entirely for me. However, the flaws that I see are very specific and not overwhelming, and certainly there's plenty to like here, especially if you're looking for fantasy adventure on the lighter side. Specifically, those who miss Battle Chasers should probably give Rogues! a go, because the highly stylized artwork and sort of goofy fantasy style might fit that niche, underserved since Madureira bailed on comics, quite well.
