Created & Written by Brandon M. Easton; Art by Scott Kester and Ryo Kawakami; Colors by Scott Kester and Dawnson Chen; Letters by Shawn Depasquale; Senior Editor: Casey Jones (Arcana)
Brandon M. Easton unfolds a fresh take on a traditional vampire tale. He presents a well thought-out futuristic setting, giving us a society warped from what we know, over-controlled and oppressive.
When a rising young lieutenant, the foster son of the world leader, shoots his own commander rather than slaughter hungry civilians, his whole existence is turned upside down. Packed off to a prison camp in the middle of an inhospitable swamp, the lieutenant starts learning dire secrets about the world he lives in, including about the people most dear to him – his foster father and his (previously presumed killed) mother.
Easton pits inhuman immortality against mortal heroics and keeps the reader engaged in Lt. Caesaro’s quest to understand what is happening around himself.
The artwork from Kester and Kawakami is edgy and energetic, helping drive the story forward. The colors from Kester and Chen also heighten the aggressive atmosphere of the story. The whole art team has done a good job servicing the hostile world of Easton’s tale.
I liked that Easton holds off the revelation of just what the nature of the looming threat is. He builds toward it, engaging us in Caesaro’s dilemnas and struggles. If you’re looking for an off-beat science fiction flavored thriller, this is the tale for you.
