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A review by thewulverslibrary
Dark One by Nathan C. Gooden, Kurt Michael Russell, Jackson Lanzing, Brandon Sanderson, Collin Kelly
3.0
From the brilliant mind of Brandon Sanderson came Dark One. A graphic novel from Vault Comics written by Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly that is one I've been eagerly awaiting for a while that deserves an audience as wide as it can get.
Without spoiling a lot we are thrown into a discussion about the true villain or hero of this book; The Narrative. The Narrative is treated much like the Pattern in Wheel of Time that determines who the Dark One is, who the Destined Hero is and everything in between. I won't talk too much about the story because it's a brilliant start to the series but what really drew me was the stunning artwork by Nathan Gooden and the colouring from Kurt Michael Russell. We are treated to a grand yet grounded world and a gritty fantasy setting that leans into conventional aesthetics.
The quality of the artwork is consistent yet familiar. There are courtrooms and castles drawn with the same amount of intricate detail and this is incredibly meticulous. Gooden and Russell really compliment each other in these scenes that can easily be dark and vivid but still pop to the reader which can usually be a risk in a dark fantasy world.
Lanzig and Kelly don't go unnoticed here either. This story is paced well and layered with questions and dynamic characters. There is great dialogue between characters and nothing feels forced or put in just for the sake of it and this is what i like in comics; a great story that leads off for future pay-outs. The story stands well on its own but is obviously setting up a larger scope which I'm really intrigued to see. If you're looking for a fantasy comic drenched in thrilling fights and dark secrets then this one is for you.
Without spoiling a lot we are thrown into a discussion about the true villain or hero of this book; The Narrative. The Narrative is treated much like the Pattern in Wheel of Time that determines who the Dark One is, who the Destined Hero is and everything in between. I won't talk too much about the story because it's a brilliant start to the series but what really drew me was the stunning artwork by Nathan Gooden and the colouring from Kurt Michael Russell. We are treated to a grand yet grounded world and a gritty fantasy setting that leans into conventional aesthetics.
The quality of the artwork is consistent yet familiar. There are courtrooms and castles drawn with the same amount of intricate detail and this is incredibly meticulous. Gooden and Russell really compliment each other in these scenes that can easily be dark and vivid but still pop to the reader which can usually be a risk in a dark fantasy world.
Lanzig and Kelly don't go unnoticed here either. This story is paced well and layered with questions and dynamic characters. There is great dialogue between characters and nothing feels forced or put in just for the sake of it and this is what i like in comics; a great story that leads off for future pay-outs. The story stands well on its own but is obviously setting up a larger scope which I'm really intrigued to see. If you're looking for a fantasy comic drenched in thrilling fights and dark secrets then this one is for you.