Comic Review: Folklords # 1

Folklords #1

BOOM Studios

Writer: Matt Kindt

Artist: Matt Smith, Colorist: Chris O’Halloran

If this first issue is anything to go by, Boom Studios’ new series FOLKLORDS will be a fresh take on the fantasy adventure genre. This is because even though it features many of the tropes that we have come to associate with the genre; such as quests, villages, trolls, etc… it aims to separate itself by introducing an anachronistic twist. Our lead character Ansel has the unique ability to see into the future. Catching visions of tall buildings and technology that neither he or anyone so far can make sense of. In fact, he’s so fascinated by this that he even dresses in a recreation of modern pants and a blazer (compared to the medieval Europe style of everyone else around him).

The story begins as Ansel and his friends are coming of age and preparing to enter the stage of adulthood. In order to make this transition, they must participate in a local tradition which entails each one going on their own respective quest. Something substantial to prove their talent and maturity. While hanging out at their equivalent of a bar, they take turns sharing what they have chosen for their projects. Everything is going fine until Ansel drops a bombshell by revealing that he wants to search for the titular Folklords; a mysterious entity that has been deemed a taboo subject in this universe. From here the plot unfolds and leads Ansel to set off on his search for answers.

The artwork in this first issue is fun and cheerful and the colors appropriately so. As this is is just the beginning chapter, the setting is one of relative peace. I suspect we will be introduced to darker environments and elements as the story progresses. Also worth the spotlight is the letterer Jim Campbell, who masterfully shows his talent for the craft by featuring a great variety of different styles for the words. Ranging from handwritten cursive to regular speech text.

All in all, I definitely look forward to reading more of this story and I hope it finds a good audience. It’s a fun read and appropriate for all ages.