Comic Review: The Last Siege #1

The Last Siege #1

Image Comics

Writer: Landry Q. Walker

Artists Justin Greenwood and Eric Jones

The Last Siege opens with a grotesque page. Rain pours as ravens pick on the remains of a small animal. Justin Greenwood and Eric Jones’ art sets the stage for a dark and moody book that is oozing with atmosphere.

Landry Q. Walker’s second creator-owned series is gritty. It takes place in a world that feels like it was removed from the European middle ages. It feels heavily inspired by masterpieces such as Game of Thrones or Witcher, with royal houses, starving towns, and lawless bars. Walker’s world still manages to feel different than the worlds that inspired it, featuring a quiet and strong protagonist that wields a katana instead of tradition European arms. It’s certainly an intriguing world, that mixes lore from both Western and Eastern culture, but so far that’s all it is.

Most of the title’s dialogue feels somewhat generic, and the pacing doesn’t allow for much room to get invested in the characters. The protagonist, who seems fill the “badass swordsman” archetype, isn’t particularly interesting either. Fortunately, there is a subplot involving a young girl rising to the head of a house, that seems to have potential. It’s a given that these characters are meant to cross paths, which could lead to the book finding more life in its characters. These two may have the chemistry needed to make themselves more interesting as the story progresses.

Outside of the weak character introductions, there is quite a bit to like in this series debut. The action sequences are laid out well, and especially easy to follow. Every character movement is clear and natural thanks to Greenwood’s pencils. The art style complements the gritty story well, without making the book feel edgy or forced. Greenwood’s use of art to tell a story is efficient, and it feels like this issue would still be effective as a silent issue. The coloring by Eric Jones neatly ties everything together, with a palette full of subtle blues and purples to establish the tone. The issue feels dark but brightly colored at the same time, which helps the issue avoid feeling too bland and without spirit.

The Last Siege is a flawed, but intriguing debut. With a significant amount of help from Greenwood and Jones, Walker’s world is full of life and mystique. Despite a weak introduction to the characters, this book should interest fantasy fans who are looking for a few twists from the status quo.