Reaver #1
Image Comics
Writer: Justin Jordan
Art: Rebekah Isaacs & Alex Guimaraes
A group of misfits is sent off on a suicide mission aiming to undermine the intelligence of the opposite side on a war that’s raging on the fantastical country of Madaras. Image Comics‘ new title applies the misfit team formula to an astonishing new setting that should pick up the interest of most comic book readers.
The first chapter covers the set up for the group’s mission and the beloved role call we all love to read. Before all that, however, we get to see Ash and Breaker’s past in the war for Madaras. Ash, who appears as our leading character, is a turncoat who aids the imperials in the fight against his people. He was thrown in prison for deserting battle as his fellow soldiers were massacred by the Devil’s Son, Breaker. After that, we’re presented to Marris, the mastermind of the group’s mission, and his bodyguard, Thes. The group is recruited and is sent off to their mission.
The conduction of the characters’ introduction sequences are on point. Each one gets their own moment to display their first impression (to us, the readers, and to the other team members) as well as their chance to shine on a brief escape scene later on. In order to keep a serious tone regarding the politics of this comic’s universe, author Justin Jordan opted for not using mainly expositional panels, instead of displaying the information along with the book’s dialogues. Although this is a bit confusing at first, it pays off later on, after we understand which slurs and nicknames are used to name which of the people involved in the war, despite there being some of them not quite explicit just yet.
Rebekah Isaacs‘ facial expressions and body language are sublime. Not only they translate the characters’ feelings but also complement their personalities perfectly along with the dialogue. Plus her action scenes are elaborate to the right point where we understand what’s happening and we are entertained. Guimaraes’ coloring is just as beautiful as Isaacs’ penciling. Although his shading is gorgeous and incredibly well made, it’s the lighting that caught my eye. The artist manages to include different sources of light in what appears to be an effortless work, as each scene is perfectly composed even if the light source is odd colored, such as bright pink.
This series is off to a great start. It combines elements that we know such as a political struggle in a fantastic world as well as the expendable misfit team we all love, yet it adds new elements and its own spin on just how weird these characters are. There’s still a lot to explore in the main group as well as in the comic’s universe making this chapter a must read set up for what’s to come.
Click for more new comic book reviews
Reaver #1
This series is off to a great start. It combines elements that we know such as a political struggle in a fantastic world as well as the expendable misfit team we all love, yet it add new elements and its own spin on just how weird these characters are. There's still a lot to explore in the main group as well as in the comic's universe making this chapter a must read set up for what's to come.
-
Story
-
Characters
-
Art