"Mask of the Red Panda" is a phenomenal throwback to old pulp classics that doesn't feel like an overt homage or pastiche, this is simply the real deal. While the other superheroic crime book from Monkeybrain, "Masks & Mobsters," borrows a film noir aesthetic, "Mask of the Red Panda" is very much a pulp delight in the vein of a Saturday matinee serial. This book does just about everything right from art, dialogue, plot, genre sensibility, and amazing price point for density of story. This is yet another breakout hit, in yet another distinct genre, for Monkeybrain Comics. "Mask of the Red Panda" is quite simply a must read. Read Full Review
On the surface, The Mask of the Red Panda seems like a trite reproduction of stories weve seen time and time again. But Gregg Taylor knows what hes doing. Hes created a world that is unique, and in that world he adds a fresh perspective to familiar archetypes. The Mask of the Red Panda has a storied and strange past; going from radio play to novel to comic. And after reading it, I can only hope the Red Panda lives on, and gets even stranger. Read Full Review
Keeping with the noir aesthetic, the book is done in black and white, with Kotz uses bold lines and shadows to excellent effect. The style is very reminiscent of 1940s Hollywood, helps sell some of the exaggerated emotions that are commonplace in earlier pulp-noir fiction. The one gripe I usually level at black-and-white books is that sometimes it's hard to take in, with lines melding into one another to create a confusing mess. Luckily, Kotz has no problem making art that is clean and easy to follow, while maintaining his own distinct style. Read Full Review
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