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A review by joshgauthier
Black Bolt, Vol. 1: Hard Time by Saladin Ahmed
4.0
I went into this knowing nothing about Black Bolt, little about the Inhumans, and with no idea what to expect from the story. I was not disappointed in any way.
Ahmed has created a story that stands effectively without background, and is immensely engaging in plot, character, and theme. The concept of heroes trying to escape a labyrinthine prison is not a new one, but Ahmed uses it to its full potential as a superhero adventure and a deeper examination of crime and imprisonment. The story finds an effective balance of darkness and humor, linking the title character's development to the larger setting and story.
Basically everything here works--the characters are strong, the emotional drive of the story is crafted well, the art is striking, and the plot itself is as exciting as would be expected from a superhero story.
Ahmed has created a story that stands effectively without background, and is immensely engaging in plot, character, and theme. The concept of heroes trying to escape a labyrinthine prison is not a new one, but Ahmed uses it to its full potential as a superhero adventure and a deeper examination of crime and imprisonment. The story finds an effective balance of darkness and humor, linking the title character's development to the larger setting and story.
Basically everything here works--the characters are strong, the emotional drive of the story is crafted well, the art is striking, and the plot itself is as exciting as would be expected from a superhero story.