Skip to main content

REVIEW: 'Verge' #1 by Bryce McLellan, Silvio Db, and Louie Joyce

 

VERGE #1

Writer: Bryce McLellan

Artist: Silvio Db, Louie Joyce

Letterer: Sean Rinehart

Publisher: Red 5 Comics

Release Date: September 29, 2021

Cover Price: $3.95

A mysterious time travel event known as the Verge had brought thousands of people from across all of history to New York City. Vikings, Samurai, Romans, Mayans, Cavemen, and thousands of others all live in a vast and turbulent melting pot. Connie Liu, an NYPD Detective, investigates the murder of three Samurai, a case that threatens to turn the divisions in the city into an all-out war.

Score:

★★★★★ (5/5)

'Verge' [not sure why it's not The Verge] #1 by Bryce McLellan, Silvio Db, and Louie Joyce from Red 5 Comics has a great premise. What if people including some of the greatest warriors in the history of the world arrived through time travel all at once and landed in New York City? That event is known as the Verge and now all of these refugees of time have to live together and assimilate to modern-day society. It's a chaotic melting pot of enormous proportions and keeping them in line is no easy task. Enter Detective Connie Liu, who has a special way of relating to each new old culture. The question remains, why did this happen?  

With so many different people from Vikings to Romans to Mayans to Samurai, it's inevitable for them to carve out their own neighborhoods leading to tribalism and uneasy alliances. This new world order keeps the police busy. The opening sequence is a clever twist on a police procedural when a Viking is accused of murder. Detective Liu plays to his ego and honor to get what she needs to close the case and we see just how smart and hardnosed she is. She's the perfect protagonist to guide the reader through this bizarro world. 

Artists Silvio Db and Louie Joyce bring this gritty, very urban, and congested New York to life. It's very reminiscent of Michael Lark's work on the excellent  'Gotham Central' series from DC Comics in the early 2000s. With sometimes scratchy linework, shadowy noir-infused settings, and a somewhat satirical take on life in one of the most diverse cities in the world, Silvio captures a world that isn't entirely fantasy in the way refugees are treated and seen. There are some funny bits in the double splash page that show how these historical figures are adjusting to life in the present. Everything from dating life to making rent is covered in the eavesdropping of these new residents in the speech bubbles provided by letterer Sean Rinehart during the hustle and bustle of a typical day. 

'Verge' is a clever and entertaining new series that brings historical people from throughout the world to present-day New York. It causes a myriad of issues that range from endearing to dangerous. At its center, 'Verge' is a crime thriller that shines with a dynamic character in Liu and world-building that is exciting and surprising. 'Verge' is a winner and deserves a spot in your pull-list. 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

PREVIEW: THE ART OF INVINCIBLE SEASON ONE Companion Hardcover Offers a Behind the Scenes Look at the Hit Series

  Today Skybound debuted an all-new look at  The Art of Invincible Season One,  the behind-the-scenes companion to Prime Video’s hit animated series,  Invincible.  This hardcover marks the first animation artbook produced by Skybound Entertainment for the landmark franchise’s jump to television and will be available everywhere books are sold on March 27, 2024.     The Art of Invincible Season One  features never-before-seen production art, and exclusive commentary on the hit Prime Video series from key creatives, including  Invincible  comic co-creators Robert Kirkman and Cory Walker. Superfans of the hit animated series will be happy to find exclusive characters, backgrounds, vehicle designs, key art, and more inside this volume!    The critically acclaimed adult animated superhero series is currently airing the first half of its eight-episode second season on Prime Video, with new episodes airing weekly on #...

REVIEW: 'Little Monsters' #1 by Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen

  LITTLE MONSTERS #1 Writer: Jeff Lemire Artist: Dustin Nguyen Publisher: Image Comics Release Date: March 9, 2022 Cover Price: $3.99 They are the last children on Earth... who also happen to be vampires. For longer than they can remember, these child vampires have lived a life of eternal wonder amongst the ruins of humanity. But shocking events fracture the group and set them on a path of discovery that will shatter their innocence forever. Score: ★★★★1/2 (4.5/5) There are certain comic book creators whose books I'll pick up without hesitation. One of those creators is Jeff Lemire. He instills confidence knowing that his stories will be thoughtful and engaging. You add a talented artist like Dustin Nguyen on another collaborative effort and well, 'Little Monsters,' is a must-buy. I know, shocking.   They team up again with an intriguing post-apocalyptic vampire tale featuring "the last children on Earth" who've been left to their own devices among the ruin...

PREVIEW: 'Fire and Ice: Teegra' One-Shot by Bill Willingham and Gabriele Di Caro

 FIRE AND ICE: TEEGRA writer: Bill Willingham artist: Gabriele Di Caro covers: Dan Panosian (A), Meghan Hetrick (B) FC | 40 pages | Fantasy | $5.99 | Teen+  In Stores February 28, 2024 When you go to war against the dark forces of the frozen north, there are some things you can’t do without — like warriors, weapons, and the will to fight. You also need strong allies if you want to have any hope of victory. But how do you cement the kind of alliances that help to win wars? Well, if you have a daughter of marriageable age, a strategic betrothal might be a good way to go. And that’s just what King Jarol of Firekeep has in mind for his beautiful, headstrong daughter, Teegra. But what happens when the eligible princes of many kingdoms line up to compete for fair Teegra’s hand, only to find that the promised princess is suddenly nowhere to be found? Find out this February in a story we almost called “Teegra’s Big Run”! Renowned writer BILL WILLINGHAM and fan-favorite ar...