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Pound for Pound Box Set
TKO Studios presents "Pound for Pound" by Natalie Chaidez (QUEEN OF THE SOUTH, HUNTERS, 12 MONKEYS)
THIS IS A BOX SET - INCLUDES 6 ISSUES
Underground MMA fighter Dani Libra fears nothing...except for her recurring blackouts and fractured memories that obscure a bloody past. But when her sister is kidnapped, Dani must shine a light on the darkness in her own mind. Only question is -- can she keep her own demons at bay for long enough to save her sister?
Written by Natalie Chaidez (QUEEN OF THE SOUTH, HUNTERS, 12 MONKEYS), drawn by Andy Belanger (SWAMP THING), and colored by Daniela Miwa (THE FEARSOME DOCTOR FANG, THE OLD GUARD).
"top-tier action storytelling" - Comics Beat
"Ballsy, violent and utterly engrossing, Pound For Pound is the kind of indie comic series that will keep you invested from start to finish." - The Comic Vault
"A gritty and dark tale" - Geek Vibes Nation
"Belanger’s art, when she fights, with punches and kicks that impact so strongly that you can almost hear the bones cracking." - Women Write About Comics
If you enjoyed Pound for Pound, check out a few other TKO Studios thrilling titles:
Sara (written by Garth Ennis) - ISBN 9781732748538
The Banks (written by Roxane Gay) - ISBN 9781732748583
Sentient (written by Jeff Lemire) - ISBN 9781732748545
Blood Like Garnets - ISBN 9781952203732
Djeliya - ISBN 9781952203244
Eve of Extinction - ISBN 9781732748576
Lonesome Days Savage Nights - 9781952203114
Redfork - ISBN 9781952203091
Scales & Scoundrels Book 1 - ISBN 9781952203220
Scales & Scoundrels Book 2 - ISBN 9781952203237
The Fearsome Doctor Fang - ISBN 9781732748514
The Pull - ISBN 9781952203107
The 7 Deadly Sins - ISBN 9781732748507
171 pages, Box Set
First published November 1, 2019
64 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
September 28, 2022
Pound for Pound collects issues 1-6 of the series written by Natalie Chaidez with art by Andy Belanger.
An underground MMA fighter must fight gangs and CTS in order to save her kidnapped sister.
Unfortunately, I was not a fan of this book. The story is just bad and felt like it should be a parody but I think it is actually taking itself serious. Bad humor, too many character twists, a lame villain that doesn't show up until the end with no connection to the characters, and some characters that could be considered discriminating. The only saving grace is the colorful art. Just skip it.
An underground MMA fighter must fight gangs and CTS in order to save her kidnapped sister.
Unfortunately, I was not a fan of this book. The story is just bad and felt like it should be a parody but I think it is actually taking itself serious. Bad humor, too many character twists, a lame villain that doesn't show up until the end with no connection to the characters, and some characters that could be considered discriminating. The only saving grace is the colorful art. Just skip it.
December 23, 2020
(4 of 5 for decent run & revenge action comics)
After The Banks, which was a huge waste of time I feared to continue with another TKO book. But as they say, luck favours the bold. I feared the worst, though.
But Pound for Pound started with a kick and nice escalation of story and from there it rolled for pretty awesome search and revenge action.
The art is good and the comic has a pretty nice atmosphere. It mixes bits from thinks like Taken, Sicario, Rambo Last blood (the good parts of the first half) with Rodriguez-ish ease and humour. The style of the dynamics in this comic leaves me not surprised that Natalie Chaidez is a film school graduate and works in this industry. Well, making a movie is closer to creating comics than being a writer.
Andy Belanger's art is more than decent, I like his thick inks and how good he deals with action and human characters alike. Daniela Miwa is the important name here and name to remember. Her colouring here is great and I must say she did a major service for Dr Fang's art.
Pound for Pound is pretty great if you're looking for some action drama from Mexico-USA border.
After The Banks, which was a huge waste of time I feared to continue with another TKO book. But as they say, luck favours the bold. I feared the worst, though.
But Pound for Pound started with a kick and nice escalation of story and from there it rolled for pretty awesome search and revenge action.
The art is good and the comic has a pretty nice atmosphere. It mixes bits from thinks like Taken, Sicario, Rambo Last blood (the good parts of the first half) with Rodriguez-ish ease and humour. The style of the dynamics in this comic leaves me not surprised that Natalie Chaidez is a film school graduate and works in this industry. Well, making a movie is closer to creating comics than being a writer.
Andy Belanger's art is more than decent, I like his thick inks and how good he deals with action and human characters alike. Daniela Miwa is the important name here and name to remember. Her colouring here is great and I must say she did a major service for Dr Fang's art.
Pound for Pound is pretty great if you're looking for some action drama from Mexico-USA border.
November 29, 2019
Llegó la segunda ola de títulos de TKO Studios, y obviando el evidente y merecido ruido mediático que está haciendo el Sentient de Jeff Lemire y Gabriel Hernández Walta, desde que se anunció esta remesa puse mi punto de mira en Pound for pound. Las historias fronterizas me atraen, y la obra de Natalie Chaidez y Andy Belanger prometía ese sucio aire del desierto que lo cubre todo de polvo y crudeza, y ese eterno enfrentamiento entre el Sur y lo que está por debajo. Una vez leída, en cierto modo Pound for pound se interna en esos terrenos que anticipaba, aunque la manera en que se desarrolla su trama termina generando sensaciones encontradas.
Nos situamos en el mundo de la MMA —artes marciales mixtas—, donde Dani, la protagonista, sobrevive haciéndose un nombre gracias a su récord de victorias. En una de las peleas, amañada para que la pierda, Dani sufre uno de sus habituales blackouts y termina derrotando a su rival. Esto le va a acarrear una tremenda deuda, y Dani va a tener que hacer frente a una consecuencia terrible: el rapto de su hermana pequeña.
Tenemos por tanto una historia de venganza. Venganza por una serie de malas decisiones, de esas que pueden truncar vidas. El carácter luchador de Dani le va a llevar a emprender una odisea salvaje aún a sabiendas de que su coste puede ser inmenso. A todo ello asistimos mientras se nos escupen recurrentes imágenes del pasado, un pasado distorsionado en el que la familia de Dani atraviesa el desierto con la intención de llegar a la tierra prometida, solo para encontrarse con un monstruo que acabó con ese sueño en un abrir y cerrar de ojos.
Reseña completa en "Heraldo de Galactus": https://heraldodegalactus.com/2019/11...
Nos situamos en el mundo de la MMA —artes marciales mixtas—, donde Dani, la protagonista, sobrevive haciéndose un nombre gracias a su récord de victorias. En una de las peleas, amañada para que la pierda, Dani sufre uno de sus habituales blackouts y termina derrotando a su rival. Esto le va a acarrear una tremenda deuda, y Dani va a tener que hacer frente a una consecuencia terrible: el rapto de su hermana pequeña.
Tenemos por tanto una historia de venganza. Venganza por una serie de malas decisiones, de esas que pueden truncar vidas. El carácter luchador de Dani le va a llevar a emprender una odisea salvaje aún a sabiendas de que su coste puede ser inmenso. A todo ello asistimos mientras se nos escupen recurrentes imágenes del pasado, un pasado distorsionado en el que la familia de Dani atraviesa el desierto con la intención de llegar a la tierra prometida, solo para encontrarse con un monstruo que acabó con ese sueño en un abrir y cerrar de ojos.
Reseña completa en "Heraldo de Galactus": https://heraldodegalactus.com/2019/11...
April 24, 2020
I thought this story was a blast.
Dani, a tenacious, bad-ass, Latinx, underground-MMA fighter, pisses off the wrong gangster so they kidnap her little sister.
Rodriguez/Tarantinoesque plotting mixed with Cormac McCarthyish southern gothic comedy à la Outer Dark (The Patriot Council?!) topped off with absurdity reminiscent of Garth Ennis' Preacher. Whoa. I didn't expect the story to take the turn into to Crazy Town but it did and that kept it fresh.
Great story, plotting, pace, art, detail, framework, and coloring. Lots of Spanish cursing and I love Spanish curses; it's a beautiful language.
Dani, a tenacious, bad-ass, Latinx, underground-MMA fighter, pisses off the wrong gangster so they kidnap her little sister.
Rodriguez/Tarantinoesque plotting mixed with Cormac McCarthyish southern gothic comedy à la Outer Dark (The Patriot Council?!) topped off with absurdity reminiscent of Garth Ennis' Preacher. Whoa. I didn't expect the story to take the turn into to Crazy Town but it did and that kept it fresh.
Great story, plotting, pace, art, detail, framework, and coloring. Lots of Spanish cursing and I love Spanish curses; it's a beautiful language.
August 14, 2020
Once more TKO has done! They are able to consistently deliver five stars titles.
With pound for pound you emerge yourself into a Grindhouse b-movie Mexican environment. With a compelling story that leaves you wanting more after each issue.
We follow the journey of Dani Libra in a twistfull away, seeking answers and revenge.
The art is wonderfully suited for the argument. Of course there are some improvement points...the lettering could be a lot better (it feels a bit disconnected from the art) and some more extras would be appreciated.
However, try something different and threat yourself with a tko book.
With pound for pound you emerge yourself into a Grindhouse b-movie Mexican environment. With a compelling story that leaves you wanting more after each issue.
We follow the journey of Dani Libra in a twistfull away, seeking answers and revenge.
The art is wonderfully suited for the argument. Of course there are some improvement points...the lettering could be a lot better (it feels a bit disconnected from the art) and some more extras would be appreciated.
However, try something different and threat yourself with a tko book.
November 23, 2020
This story of an MMA fighter in Mexico going all out for revenge against the monsters who stole her sister has a lot of familiar elements to it, and honestly, you don’t get a sense that you lose anything when you quit reading the dialogue altogether. The art is skillfully done, but feels stiff and heavy.
May 5, 2020
Andy Belanger's art is astounding. The layouts, the rendering of detail, and the action scenes are all a delight to behold. Daniela Miwa's color provides a tremendous amount of atmosphere and really makes the desert setting come to life.
Unfortunately, the story didn't work for me.
Unfortunately, the story didn't work for me.
December 18, 2019
Andy Belanger's art is what brought me here. I wasn't disappointed by it, but parts of the story didn't quite work for me. Generally pretty entertaining, but some story points don't make sense or are entirely glossed over. Seems to me like this could have been a much longer series. Check it out for Andy's kick ass art. On a side note, Andy is a pro wrestler as well, so he REALLY knows how to do dynamic action/fight art.
February 6, 2021
Art good, story bad
The art is decent . That being said, the story was plain and not original. There are things they do in the story that are inexplicable. For instance the main characters attacks the enemy wearing wrestler masks just because. Plus too, I'm tired of the main character being a woman who can casually kick the butts of an army of jacked dudes. Can there be something new please?
The art is decent . That being said, the story was plain and not original. There are things they do in the story that are inexplicable. For instance the main characters attacks the enemy wearing wrestler masks just because. Plus too, I'm tired of the main character being a woman who can casually kick the butts of an army of jacked dudes. Can there be something new please?
October 25, 2020
Really quick punch of a story, super engaging art, lots of twists that kept me immersed in the story. This would have really worked as a more drawn out series I think, just to explain and thread through some elements more tightly, but still was a good, snappy read.
January 28, 2021
Visceral brilliance
A female MMA fighter attempts to find her missing little sister, and sets out on a violent rampage.
Great little story, beautiful looking art, and the violence properly packs a wallop.
Excellent stuff
A female MMA fighter attempts to find her missing little sister, and sets out on a violent rampage.
Great little story, beautiful looking art, and the violence properly packs a wallop.
Excellent stuff
May 30, 2024
A female MMA fighter has to go after the cartel who took her little sister. There's a lot of twists and turns here, some of them not making the most sense. It's over the top graphic action. It reminded me some of Machete but less cheesy.
March 24, 2020
3.5 stars of we want to get technical.
May 22, 2020
Only read issue #1, but it is not available to rate so this is why I am here. When I can read the entire volume I will change the review.
July 5, 2020
The perfect badass grindhouse revenge comic I never knew I needed.
November 12, 2020
Kickass action, brutality, awesome art... It only loses a star because I felt the end was a little rushed, as was the revelation of the "mastermind"....
March 1, 2021
DPL hoopla
May 26, 2022
Made me laugh and I really liked the characters. It was good and pulpy
March 20, 2025
The art is good, the story is ok.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews