Warning: Potential Spoilers Ahead!
Imagine a world where streaming, the love of violence in our entertainment, and cancel culture is taken to an extreme new height by combining all of those things and you essentially have free reign to take out anyone who has been deemed ‘cancelled’ and earn a profit while you do so. Terrified of that kind of a concept? Well, you probably should be but thankfully, its not a reality yet. But in the first issue of You’ve Been Cancelled by Mad Cave due out in June, Curt Pires and his creative team give us a look into that kind of a world and its about as terrifying as you can expect it to be. Terrifyingly bloody and with a dash of raunchy naughtyness that I was a little surprised by and makes me wonder if perhaps the Cave could be considering adding a more mature adult line of comics as an imprint and YBC is potentially a test run. Of course, I could be thinking too much into that but one never knows. Roland Endo, our story’s main character, is the top guy in the world of YBC when it comes to ending someone who’s been ‘Cancelled’ and isn’t shy about punting competition to the side when they get in his way.
As when you’re at the top you are bound to have those who want to knock you off even while you’re working and ol’ Roland definitely has that problem! Unfortunately, he’s got more than one problem and that’s where some of that surprising raunchy naughtyness comes from I mentioned earlier that I was a little surprised by. And its something that helps him deal with his past and its likely a damn good thing he gets paid so good or he probably wouldn’t be able to afford it! As I read through this, Kevin Castaniero’s art and Jason Wordle’s colors made me feel like I was looking at something Stefano Cardoselli (suppose that’s because Don’t Spit In The Wind’s still a strong presence in my head) had done as the art is gritty to help showcase the ugliness of a world like YBC’s and I look forward to seeing more of their work as this story goes on.
Especially considering how this issue ends as Cancel Culture is about to go a little sideways and how Roland will handle that will be interesting to see!
You’ve Been Cancelled #1 will be out June 7th, 2023! Enjoy the show if you dare!
You’ve Been Cancelled #1
Mad Cave Studios
Writer: Curt Pires
Artist: Kevin Castaniero
Colorist: Jason Wordie
Letterer: Micah Myers
Editor: James B. Emmett
Reviewer: Rob Wrecks
Summary: In the near future, cancel culture means more than just losing your job…it could mean your life. The world’s premier entertainment event is CANCELLED – a live-streamed program where elite bounty hunters called cancellers kill individuals who society has voted to “cancel” following heinous actions or offenses. Our story follows Roland Endo, the world’s #1 ranked Canceller. Because of this status, Roland lives in a constant state of paranoia with a target on his back…
