CBR can exclusively reveal Red Tag, a new Comixology Originals series.
Red Tag is a 5-issue limited series from Rafael Scavone (Hit-Girl), Rafael Albuquerque (American Vampire), Roger Cruz (X-Men), Cris Peter (Casanova) and Bernardo Brice (Adora and the Distance). Set for release on March 1, Red Tag follows friends Lis/Lisa, Lu/Luciana and Leco/Leandro united by their love for Brazilian street art.
According to the plot synopsis, "After Lis witnesses injustice and abuse of power on the streets of São Paulo, she enlists her friends to take matters into their own hands. Their plan works until they realize they've become privy to sensitive information belonging to holdovers from the country's brutal dictatorial past who are plotting against the movement for reform and an upcoming election in São Paulo. Armed with a can of spray paint and the help of a journalist, can they escape the dangerous and life-threatening plot they've mistakenly become entangled in?"
Speaking about the story, Scavone said, "At first glance São Paulo's buzzing streets can look chaotic, but if you look carefully, you will find voices on every wall. It doesn't matter how high those walls stretch up, they already are or will be tagged with Pixo. I've always wondered about the people behind each one of those tags, these artists who embrace all sorts of risks to have their voices heard, to leave their mark and message. These people are the perfect characters for the story we wanted to tell in Red Tag, a story of everyday heroes fighting a system of oppression."
He continued, "The São Paulo portrayed in Red Tag works as a synthesis of Brazil nowadays – a place bursting with life and talent, where artists and citizens are being systematically hampered down by those who dare to define what is or isn't art, what is or isn't justice, or even what is or isn't democracy. Red Tag is a story of fight and hope in which the villains are fictional, but also very real."
Cruz added, "I grew up on the outskirts of São Paulo, an hour away from the Historic Center, where most of the Red Tag story takes place. I used to go downtown a lot when I was a teenager, always looking for things I couldn't find in my neighborhood, like Heavy Metal records, comics and art supplies. When Albuquerque and Scavone first told me about Red Tag, I was very excited and jumped at the chance to be a part of it, not only because it takes place in São Paulo, but also because of the plot involving the pixos universe -- which I learned a lot about during the production of this series -- and especially because the plot encourages us take a look at our past and invites us to discuss our present."
Tokyo Ghost writer Rick Remender also offered his praise foe the series, saying, "Scavone, Albuquerque and Cruz craft a gripping tale of youth taking power from a corrupt system."
You can see CBR's look at Red Tag #1 below. The series will be available simultaneously in English and Portuguese.
Source: Comixology