REVIEW: 'Monarch' #1 by Rodney Barnes, Alex Lins, and Luis NCT

MONARCH #1  

Writer: Rodney Barnes

Artist: Alex Lins, Luis NCT, Mar Silvestre Galotto

Letters: Marshall Dillon

Publisher: Image Comics

Release Date: February 8, 2023

Cover Price: $3.99

SERIES PREMIERE

A new tale of terror and high-stakes science fiction hits close to home!

Growing up in the city of Compton is tough enough as it is, but as Travon has learned all too well, growing up as an orphan in the city of Compton with gang members hunting you down every day is even tougher. But all of that is about to change because today is the day that aliens make first contact with Earth-and it only spells doom for life as we know it!

Death, devastation, and mayhem-can a single teenage boy rise to the challenge and protect his surrogate family and friends...or will he die trying?

From RODNEY BARNES, the star comics writer behind the Eisner-nominated series KILLADELPHIA and the writer/executive producer of HBO's Winning Time, and up-and-coming Marvel artist ALEX LINS comes a new tale of love, triumph, disaster, and defeat! 

Score:

★★★★1/2 (4.5/5)

I have to admit I love stories set in Los Angeles. Whether it's a comic, a television show, or a movie, there's a sense of pride and joy in seeing where I was born and raised depicted in fiction. It isn't always the most flattering portrayal or accurate for that matter but when they get it right it can be thrilling. Having grown up just six miles from Compton, where 'Monarch' is set, gives me a special sense of pride that Rodney Barnes chose to highlight this city for this series. Often depicted unfairly, Compton is still home to kids like Travon who found love and security with a family finding purpose and confidence despite the obstacles that await him outside his door. This exciting sci-fi thriller could be described as 'Boyz n the Hood' meets 'War of the Worlds' but there's more to 'Monarch' than that. An emotional coming-of-age story amid an alien invasion that will test the grit and mettle of Travon and the community of Compton as a whole. 

Barnes is no stranger to exciting readers with precarious situations as evidenced by his stellar work on his 'Killadelphia' series and 'Monarch' is no different. The issue starts off with a bang and doesn't slow down for several pages. It's a white-knuckle fever dream that proves to be prescient. After you catch your breath, we're introduced to orphan Travon and his surrogate family. It's an endearing sweet interaction with his foster mother and sister. Between the relentless bully stalking him and the mysterious alien cloud that hovers over the city, life for Travon will forever be changed. As quickly as the issue started and with a nice comforting lull in between the action and terror ramps up again with even greater force and destruction. It's a devastating sequence of events that turns Compton upside down. 

The script takes us on an emotional roller coaster and the art by Alex Lins and Luis NCT drives home the power of uniquely designed alien machines determined to lay waste to the planet. Illustrated with great pacing and effective sequencing, Lins dictates the tempo with panels composed of zero fat, it's as sleek and efficient as a sprinter's stride. The flow of events is easy to read but impactful even with moments of complete chaos, Lins redirects the focus back to Travon with perfect timing. NCT's colors are subdued given the mayhem on the page but the earth tones ground the story making the events seem more realistic in a way. It could very well be an homage to the aforementioned 'War of the Worlds' because 'Monarch' is just as effective in telling a devastating science-fiction tale. 

'Monarch' takes readers on an exciting and thrilling emotional journey at the crossroads of a heartwarming coming-of-age story and an alien invasion. Travon's life of uncertainty to familial triumph back to destruction will glue readers to the pages of 'Monarch,' a winning new sci-fi series from Barnes and Lins.