Comic Review: Wyrd #1

Wyrd #1
Dark Horse
Writer: Curt Pires
Artists: Antonio Fuso & Stefano Simeone

Pitor Wyrd is a detective, but he also can’t age or die. Every now and again the United States government encounters a case that is too strange for them to handle, so they contract Wyrd to handle the case for them. In Wyrd #1, Wyrd is sent to Crimea to handle a failed attempt at creating a supersoldier who is now leaving a trail of bodies.

Wyrd is a new miniseries by writer Curt Pires and artist Antonio Fuso that follows an episodic format. This issue is light on action and heavy on worldbuilding. Wyrd is full of atmosphere, with a gritty feeling that consumes every page and panel. The reader doesn’t need to rely on wordy dialogue to obtain a grasp on the state of Crimea and the nature of the mission. Pires lets his artists tell the story, and Wyrd mostly benefits from this decision. I do wish that the final confrontation was just a little longer and meatier. Even with the use of brief flashbacks to humanize the antagonist, the final confrontation is over in just a few pages. I understand that this isn’t what Wyrd is all about, I was somewhat disappointed.

In this first issue, Pires doesn’t spend much time introducing readers to the protagonist through exposition and dialogue. Instead, Wyrd’s personality is defined by his actions, with less than a few pages used to define the character’s outlook on life. It doesn’t take long to realize that Wyrd’s peers have an odd respect for him, and most of this is due to the creative team’s artistic decisions.

Antonio Fuso & Stefano Simeone’s art is a fantastic complement to Pires’ writing. Messy lines capture the chaos that is Wyrd’s life, and the faces set a grim tone. The environments of Wyrd are fantastic, which set the tone of the various scenes as a prelude of what’s to follow. Creative use of panel layouts allow for the action to flow naturally, and no page feels lazy or repetitive. Stefano Simeone’s colors are varied and complete the look and feel of the various environments. Oranges and reds create a sense of danger that follows the characters throughout the issue. There isn’t a lot of diversity in the faces, and the facial expressions are hit or miss, but this is still a fine looking book.

Wyrd #1 is a strong start for the miniseries, with strength in world building. While I feel like the moody protagonist has been seen before, everything else feels fresh. Those who want a serious read that doesn’t hold the reader’s hand will find a lot to enjoy in this debut.