REVIEW: 'Revolution 9' #1 by Mark London, Carlos Reno, and Jao Canola

 

Revolution 9 #1

Writer: Mark London

Artist: Carlos Reno, Jao Canola

Letters: Dave Sharpe

Publisher: Mad Cave Studios

Release Date: September 25, 2024

Cover Price: $4.99

After years as an assassin for the Order of Nine, an ancient order dating back almost 3,000 years-Velveteen has turned her back on the very organization that saved her. Tasked with the murder of otherwise innocent hacker Jasper Dean, she sets off to save his life and discover the terrible secret that marked him for death. With the entire Order after them, Velveteen and Jasper must escape their grasp and prevent them from toppling society as we know it.

Revolution 9 is the first thrilling title in Underworld, an all-new universe created by Mark London (Hunt. Kill. Repeat., Battlecats, Knights of the Golden Sun). Each miniseries set within can be savored as a standalone serial while serving as a stepping stone towards ENDLESS NIGHT, the must-read crossover guaranteed to blow your mind in 2025!

Score:

7.5/10

QUICK REVIEW: When Mark London writes a comic you can count on intrigue, action, and high stakes. His latest, 'Revolution 9,' has all that and more. The first entry of the Underworld universe that encompasses standalone minis leading to one big crossover next is off to an exciting start. Velveteen is an assassin for the Order of Nine who have helped change the course of history over centuries. Her latest assignment has her questioning her duty and her handlers sense it. So, they send a supplemental team that will eliminate the target if she hesitates and eliminate her. It's a tense action-packed sequence of events that at times get bogged down in exposition and backstory. There's a lot of ground to cover in one issue so the story doesn't flow as effortlessly as it could but understandably the set-up is important. Carlos Reno and Jao Canola do their best to organize this jam-packed issue between the flashbacks and the present with integrated panels and color shifts. Canola's saturated colors allow Velveteen to stand out amid the chaos and Reno's fight choreography is exceptional. With so much dialogue and action, letterer Dave Sharpe's plate is full of bubbles and sound effects. 

'Revolution 9' launches a new universe that sets the stage for a bloody exciting chapter at Mad Cave. Both straightforward and a bit convoluted first issue, the groundwork is set by pitting an assassin against her handlers while protecting a hacker caught in the middle. London has another hit on his hands with a thrilling new series.