MANTON! DARTOR! MOTIVATIONAL ORB! Heroes for the ages! As they set out to save Earth, our man Keith Kanga retires to a life of luxury on Kaptara! But can he resist the siren song of guilt? A perfect jumping-on point for people who’ve read issue one!
Kaptara can be a confusing comicbook to pin down, since it takes its cue from many different sources. The result is a head-trippy mash-up of expectations that constantly surprises and intrigues. It's a visual trip as well, with eye-popping palettes and fantastically distorted caricatures and creatures. Can something be completely earnest while being a send-up of the very stories it's presenting? Sure it can! And it makes for a damn entertaining read, too. Read Full Review
McLeod's distorted artwork suits the bizarre and absurd tone of the premise, plot and players perfectly. Perhaps what's most striking about his work here is how much it reminds me of the style of Joe (E-Man) Staton, with his elongated figures and exaggerated facial features. Despite the somewhat loose look of some of the linework, there's a strong sense of world-building at play. The artist seems to have a fully realized vision of what Kaptara looks like and where it will lead the protagonist. Kaptara is weird but wonderful, a delightful convergence (ugh, DC has ruined that word) of pop-culture influences and the unconventional, skewed perspectives of its creative forces. Read Full Review
Everything else though? Its all solid stuff. This one, I recommend. The first issue is a little rough, but Ive a feeling this ride will be totally worth it. Bring on Issue 3! Read Full Review
Mostly set up this month yet this early on with these many great characters to grow and know this no problem. Wonderful stuff this issue which will leave you eagerly awaiting the quest to come. Read Full Review
Kaptara #1 was a bit of a surprise in how well it balanced the outlandish and goofy elements with characters you couldn't help but fall for. Kaptara #2 veers a bit more into the goofy, outlandish concepts as Keith is content to let his crewmates fend for themselves while he indulges in his wacky new life. Read Full Review
The end of the issue marks a good transition into the next one, as Keith and his guide She-La are captured by what appear to be an unaffiliated third party. At this point, Keith's life is very much in danger, and since Keith is the most likeable character of them all at the moment, his uncertain fate will make people want to pick up the next issue. Overall, Zdarsky hits the right beats in the story to make us care about Keith by the time the issue is over, enough to make us want to see what happens next; ultimately, that's a success. Read Full Review
Still, the humor predominates and it's not strong enough to hold up the plot on its own. Zdarsky will need to develop the characters more or ante up the sophistication of the humor to give the story more staying power in its initial arc. As it is, "Kaptara" contains too much mockery of the world it's introducing and too little heart. Read Full Review
Top it off with great easter eggs for fans of 80's cartoons and comics, and signs at some heart beneath all the madness, and Kaptara has the making of a fun book for anyone wanting a break from the grimness of life. Read Full Review
Kaptara is a tough one to call, and is sure to divide opinion. An intriguing central character and wonderfully inventive art are definitely its strengths, but some awkward dialogue in places does let it down somewhat. Read Full Review