Regardless, it's clear that Aftershock have yet another winner on their hands here with Jackpot, a series which starts with a bang and serves as a damn fine addition to their already throbbing roster. Read Full Review

There will most certainly be consequences for these con artists down the line, and they are probably going to be quite severe, knowing Ray Fawkes. But Ray plays it straight; he keeps his cards close to the vest like a good hustler ought. What comes next? I can't wait to know. Jackpot is a helluva lot of fun. Read Full Review

A great first issue for the new publisher, Aftershock Comics. An entertaining, high-octane crime story bursting with character. Read Full Review

Ray Fawkes brings the action fast and furious toJackpot #1,deftly introducing the players while setting up a great jumping off point for a story-line while laying the groundwork for future issues with the mystery council. He is an award winning and nominated creator of such titles as One Soul, The People Inside,and hisPossessionsseries and it is obvious to see why he has garnered such acclaim. Marco Failla and Stefani Rennee are excellent artist, known for their work for DC Comics among others and they bring an almost frantic style to the pilot issue, with dramatic lines and blasts of color. It is all in all a solid premiere and another interesting title for AfterShock. Read Full Review

Jackpot is a solid start, and if you are a fan of the genre this will be a hit. The creative team have dreamed up a fast-paced style of comic that is easy to read, but fly through this and you may miss something (I know I did on my first read-through). However, if you take your time over it there are also hints of a hidden richness there that you can enjoy. I was going to give this a 3, or a 3.5, it's a great start and worth a read, but there wasn't a real sense of individuality yet ". until the end. Like I said before, we know Ray Fawkes has a pedigree we enjoy, and the end of the issue just explodes with possibilities. It immediately made me think of 'Now You See Me,' and this direction has bags of potential and has my interest piqued. Read Full Review

The cliffhanger has a satisfying punch because Fawkes effectively widens the frame and shifts the genre of the story he's telling in one page. It's a move that's been done before, and the idea of an involuntary audition is also nothing new, but Fawkes and Failla do it well. "Jackpot" #1 was a Sting, and now it's a Conspiracy, complete with sinister surveillance and a war room. Fawkes is aware of all the genre tropes, and he straddles the line between earnest and ironic carefully. His trick on the reader was well-played, but it can only be played once. Further frame and genre shifts wouldn't have the same impact and would feel even more contrived. He needs to have other surprises of a different nature up his sleeve for future issues, or the plot will lose steam. For now, though, "Jackpot" #1 has created a strong hook. Read Full Review

Jackpot works a familiar feeling that you see with any number of heist movies or novels in how the opening chapter plays out and it does do it well enough. Fawke's scripting and pacing feels a little off with the quick back and forth early on and I really detested the large lettering used to introduce the team as it just made this seem even more like it's simply a storyboard for a movie. Failla's artwork is decent enough but some of the angles and fluidity of the action from scene to scene left me a little cool for the most part. It's the kind of book that likely has a solid concept behind it and a bigger plan to work with, but the opening installment doesn't provide enough of a hook in any of the main areas it needs to, from writing to artwork to actual plot itself. And with characters that I'm not feeling like I should engage with, it's a book that I'll check out down the line depending on how future issues are received. Read Full Review