Comics: You Have Been Killed by a Grue
by Dee. 11/10/2022
Dearest comic readers: Welcome back to another exciting month of comic reviews! From Image Comics, we have Kaya, from DC Comics there is DC's Terrors Through Time, and Marvel's entry for the month is Wakanda.Kaya (Image Comics): Kaya is a young lady with a magical arm trying to survive, with her brother in tow. This world is very harsh, as her village gets destroyed by an evil empire. She's looking to get her brother (the prince, as he's quick to say) to a safehouse, dodging mutants and lizard-monsters all the way. Interestingly enough, though the title of the book is Kaya, the brother is the narrator in the first issue. We will see if that changes with the second issue, due out November 9th (so come pick it up too!).
The color palette is very orange based, which makes sense for a hot, hostile wasteland. The sound effects are great, and the action moves very fast. This is not a super wordy comic, but what it does have to say is rich with environmental details.
The world building is immense, as this first comic just gives you a peek between the layers of its history and its current state. The character design is fascinating, as there's so much of the story told just through the attitudes and appearances of Kaya and Jin.
This is an excellent and intriguing first issue, which I will be following with bated breath.
DC's Terrors Through Time (DC Comics): In time for Halloween antics, this one-shot brings a collection of horror stories filled with zombies harassing the JSA in the 1940's, the Gotham City Sirens in the 1990's, and Swamp Thing in a far-flung future. My favorite might be the Super Sons going trick-or-treating.
Swamp Thing is as serious an issue as usual, and the Phantom Stranger (who I don't have much history with) seemed broody, and keeps the same slightly spooky tone throughout. Passing familiarity with several of the heroes and villains of the DC Universe is helpful. I think that the script stays in character, so nothing too serious comes from Harley Quinn, and nothing lighthearted comes from Batman.
Overall, this is a solid showing from DC, and gives the reader an interesting tale to read. If you are interested in more than just this taste of the starring heroes and villains, this is a good place to start, as it functions similarly to a title's Annual issues.
Wakanda (Marvel Comics): Oh boy, oh boy, more of Black Panther's Wakanda in a series (not sarcasm)! The technological advancements are endless within this environment, so it's super interesting to see what the writers pull out. This first issue revolves around Shuri, and what it means for Wakanda as she has held the title of Black Panther as well.
Currently, T'Challa is exiled and Wakanda itself is gearing up for a civil war due to political unrest. Tensions are running high, and Shuri is trying not to break under the pressure. The action scenes are fast-paced and unique, as Shuri uses AI developed techniques to fight, shown by an animal in the panel's background to represent speed, strength and dexterity.
Each issue is reported to revolve around the fan favorite characters from the Black Panther cast, so I expect Killmonger will be in the running for an issue sometime soon.
There's also an interesting Part One of the "History of the Black Panthers" in the back, which recounts others who have picked up the mantle of the Black Panther. Going as far back as prehistoric times, the Wakandan history is intertwined with the discovery and environmental consequences of vibranium. We also get to meet the founder of Wakanda in this story. This is really great as background reading for people wanting to get into the Black Panther mythos.
That should wrap it up for this month, so I'll see you next time,
Dee