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Released by: Image Comics Ltd.
Released on: February 19, 2014
This story is part one of the arc titled Messiah Ward. That's telling as this portion details the Atlantean world and its renegade rebellion leader, Redum Anshargal, and how he comes into contact with his protege, Ukinnu.
At first, Ukinnu is part of the army, fighting against the raiding rebel forces. But that belies his true story as a member of Atlantean upper-crust, having been born with a silver spoon in his mouth. Sick of the lack of control and choice over his own life he joins the army - but he's soon realizing it's a desperate choice he's made.
This background, though, makes him an ideal candidate for Anshargal's new world, where they're free to make their own lives and build a new society around the rights of the individual. He takes Ukinnu from the battle but then is walking him through his flagship and all its wonders, wonders that rely on new technology from harvesting surface air. He even takes Ukinnu along with him to view the prehistoric humans at work on the surface and how far they've evolved.
Anshargal's made peace with the surface world, even taking to “respecting the air†and breathing without his helmet or a water-breathing apparatus. He's trying to comb Ukinnu into a suitable leader for this society as well and his inspiring ways leave a definite impression on the young man. But, to fully do so, Anshargal knows they're going to need more assistance so they go to hunting the only cross-over creature between land and sea, the fabled and ancient Amphibian. But is he entirely safe or entirely crazy now?
A fascinating new world with seemingly endless possibilities but tied to social revolutionary themes, Steve Orlando's story does an excellent job setting up characters with proper motivations and exposition while moving everything forward. Artyom Trakhanov's artwork is also wonderfully other-worldly, lush and lavish in its detail, unfettered by our “known†reality to a workable extent such that no details are lost but the newness isn't entirely overwhelming. A fascinating, old-school feeling at work here in this great new series.
