REVIEW: 'The Least We Can Do' #1 by Iolanda Zanfardino and Elisa Romboli

 

THE LEAST WE CAN DO #1

Writer: Iolanda Zanfardino

Artist: Elisa Romboli

Publisher: Image Comics

Release Date: September 14, 2022

Cover Price: $3.99

Mysterious magical power arises from a world nearly destroyed by war. A young woman fights for her ideas of revolution and to build a new society from the debris. Realizing that she can't do it alone, she has to prove her worth to the Eclipse Rebels to join them against the dreadful Eden Army.

A story of discovering what is right and what love means in a military-occupied and socially oppressed United Kingdom.

Score: 

★★★★☆ (4/5)

Iolanda Zanfardino and Elisa Romboli are back with another intriguing tale in Image Comics' 'The Least We Can Do.' An exciting blend of fantasy and post-war drama featuring a brilliant optimist willing to do whatever it takes to ensure a better tomorrow for everybody. In London, Uriel seeks out underground rebels to learn to fight but also uses her intellect to use the energy source known as Medium to improve current society. 

This newest collaboration between Zanfardino and Romboli has the same magical signatures of their previous works like 'Alice in Leatherland' and 'A Thing Called Truth.' The manic dialogue and the exuberant and effervescent character designs all bring a lot of energy to the story. This time, the creators take readers to a whole new world where magic exists but it's the unyielding optimism and thirst for knowledge of Urial that cuts through the morass of this oppressive reality. Few creators can make characters so relatable and empathetic as these two do. 

'Least' is unlike anything we've seen from this talented duo and it proves they can do any genre. Here, the aesthetic is a modern medieval dystopia where we've reverted to knights in armor, candles in lanterns, and a caste system it would appear. Is medieval punk a thing? It should be as Romboli takes inspiration from traditional Middle Ages attire and gives them a subtle Mad Max makeover. The world is torn as the underground resistance trains to fight while Uriel strives to consume as much information as possible. It draws unfavorable looks from those she has to train with but garners the full support of its leader. The brains versus brawn argument live in parallel with one another.  

'The Least We Can Do' #1 has all the energy and style Zanfardino and Romboli are known for but in a whole new setting, creating a wonderful fantasy dystopia with a lot of intelligence and intrigue. Their latest protagonist is an inspiring wide-eyed optimist ready to make the world a better place as part of the resistance. Issue one should have you hooked.