THB

THB is a science fiction comic series set on Mars during a period of human colonization. The story follows HR Watson, a teenage girl who works as a delivery courier on her scooter across the Martian settlements. The narrative centers on HR's encounters with a genetically engineered police force called THB (Tri-Horse Bluds) and her daily life navigating the complex social and political landscape of Mars. As tensions rise between various factions on the red planet, HR becomes entangled in events beyond her routine delivery duties. Paul Pope's distinctive black and white artwork captures the gritty textures of a developing Mars civilization while blending elements of both Western and Eastern comic styles. The series combines fast-paced action sequences with quieter moments of world-building. The series explores themes of independence, coming-of-age, and the impact of technological advancement on society. Through its Mars setting, THB presents questions about colonization, power structures, and human adaptation to new environments.

THB has limited reader reviews online, making it difficult to gauge overall reception. The available reviews focus on: Readers praised: - Pope's detailed black and white artwork and dynamic action sequences - The manga-influenced visual style while maintaining a unique look - World-building and setting on a colonized Mars - The title character THB as an imaginative superhero concept Readers disliked: - Story can be hard to follow due to fragmented publishing history - Early issues are difficult and expensive to find - Lack of a complete collected edition - Some found the plot meandering Review Metrics: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (based on only 89 ratings) Amazon: No listings or reviews available Comic Book Database: No aggregated ratings Notable reader comment from Goodreads: "Amazing art and world-building but frustrating that the full story was never completed or collected. Left wanting more." - User Mark S.

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🌐 THB was originally self-published by Paul Pope through his Horse Press imprint in 1994, marking one of the earliest examples of successful indie comic publishing in the digital age. 🎨 The distinctive art style combines Japanese manga influences with European ligne claire techniques, creating what Pope calls "Western Manga." 🚀 Set on a terraformed Mars in the 23rd century, THB's title refers to a shape-shifting bodyguard made of "Tri-Hydro-Bioxygenate," a super-plastic that can expand to 12 times its original size. 📚 The series was never fully completed in its original run, though portions have been republished by various publishers including Horse Press, Tundra, and Dark Horse Comics. 🏆 Paul Pope's work on THB helped him win a Kodansha Publishing Fellowship, making him one of the first American comic artists to work in the Japanese manga industry.