Advance Review: Sending Demons Back To Hell With A Song In `The Roadie’ #1
by Tom Smithyman
Roadies have a lot of responsibilities – from helping to set up concert venues to prepping the musicians’ instruments. Fighting off demons summoned by lead singers spewing satanic lyrics is not typically on the job description. 
But that was part of the day-to-day responsibilities for former Roadie Josef DeSeptum, known as Joe D., in the 1980s. As the band Mass Acre would rip through chords, Joe D. would fight hordes of se’irim and succubi looking to raise a little hell on an unsuspecting world. Fast forward to modern times, and the modern music scene has change and Joe D. is barely getting by without the music-inspired hellspawn to fight.
After an encounter with Satan’s consort, Joe D. get back on the road to rescue the daughter he didn’t know he had – who is being hunted by Urraghal, known as she-whose-mouth-drips-with-maggots, as a challenger to Satan’s throne.
Writer Tim Seeley magically recreates the 80s with some authentic, yet silly sounding lyrics reminiscent of the times: “Six Six Six, I’ve got Satan for sale. Play forward, play backwards, it’s always the same. No different to the devil whether you’ve got pride or shame.” Music like this is the reason behind today’s explicit lyrics warnings.
As interesting as concept, the story suffers a bit because we’re told about Joe D.’s heroics, but we never actually see them – at least not in this initial issue.
That’s not a knock on Fran Galan’s visuals. He makes the most of what he’s given, though much of what he’s given is NSFW. (Female demons, it seems, aren’t big on clothing.) Hopefully Galan will be able to show off more of his talents in upcoming issues.
With the necessary exposition now covered, hopefully this limited series can focus on Joe D. in action and doing what he does best – and it’s not tuning someone’s guitar.
The Roadie #1 will be available for purchase on September 28, 2022.
Overview
A great premise and a nostalgic look at the 1980s rock scene aren’t enough to save this premiere issue from being overloaded with too much exposition and not enough action on the page. We hear about the heroics of demon-fighting roadie Joe D. but we are deprived of seeing the man in action.
