The Cryptid Corps #1 of 6 sold as 2 for 1
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The Cryptid Corps #1 — Review
⭐ Covers — 4.5 to 5 Stars
Cover A
Max Bertolini absolutely understands his own strengths — and it shows.
The line work is confident, the shading is intentional, and the highlights land exactly where they need to. Even if you’ve never heard of these characters, this cover stops you in your tracks.
The composition evokes Gundam Wing and early Avengers era staging, especially with the flying character rising over the top like a modern‑era Wasp. The character designs are strong enough that you immediately want to know who these people are.
Variant Cover
This one looks like it was done in colored pencil — in the best way.
The alignment, the care, the texture… it feels handcrafted, almost like a bestiary plate brought to life. It’s delicate but confident, and it respects both the content and the audience.
Both covers are so good they almost sabotage the interior by setting expectations too high.
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Interior — 2 Stars
Opening Pages
The book opens with a very Hellboy‑coded military document introducing the EDDI — Extra Dimensional Defense Initiative. It’s an unexpected starting point, but not a bad one. It just needs a few pages to earn its place.
Art & Shading
The artist clearly knows where their weaknesses are — and tries to compensate with heavy shading. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it creates unnecessary dark patches that flatten the panel instead of enhancing it.
The book claims a ’90s setting, and visually it leans into that era’s robust, chunky, over‑inked aesthetic. But it leans a little too hard.
Lettering & Layout
As a Jessica Jones fan, the bubble clutter in the intro pages is noticeable.
A few more establishing shots — maybe the jet exterior before the attack — would’ve helped the pacing breathe. You introduced these characters with phenomenal covers; let us sit with them before the chaos hits.
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Character Moments
Wolf Character
The wolf farting into the microphone and then talking into it?
That’s either genius or madness.
Either way, it’s memorable.
Wendy the Wendigo
Her powers are fun, even if the name made me facepalm.
Team Leader Shot
Shooting the character we’re most connected to in the back of the throat on‑camera is a choice.
A bold one.
Maybe too bold.
If anything, shooting the wolf and showing the lizard leader’s emotional response would’ve hit harder — because that’s where the emotional tether currently is.
Action Panel Issues
The demonic character’s arm is crunched, the gun is hidden behind its own muzzle flash, and the shading is used to obscure anatomy instead of enhance it. A little flame on the victim’s back or a smaller flash would’ve fixed the whole panel.
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Construction Quality
Physical Build
A drop of water hit the page and left no stain.
That’s impressive.
The physical construction is genuinely excellent.
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Overall Impression
The covers promise explosions.
The interiors deliver Roman candles.
There’s enjoyment to be had — the concept is fun, the characters have potential, and the worldbuilding has teeth — but the interior art leans into every issue I hoped it would avoid:
- Over‑shading
- Anatomy inconsistencies
- Generic character construction
- Over‑sexualization
Covers: 4.5–5
Interior: 2
Not a bad book — just one that can’t live up to its own marketing.
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