Devil’s Due/1First Comics 2017
On Sale Aug 02 2017
Created & Written by Bill Willingham
Illustrated by Mark Dos Santos
Coloured by Salvatore Aiala
Lettered by Thomas Mauer
Lark is a runaway living rough on the streets of LA, when suddenly she's transported to an alien world of swords, dragons and magic, where everyone wants her dead. And she likely won't live long enough to find out why!
This was available at C2E2 first as a special offering and here I am with it now to give a little sneak peek at what’s going to be coming. I’m pretty sure there isn’t anyone alive who didn’t fall in love with Fables after reading it and now it’s time for Bill to do his own creator owned book. Mixing elements of Fables with some classic role playing game style adventure this original and unique little book will take you by surprise.
So this issue is delightful introduction to the series and it’s done in a way that took me by surprise. I like it, it’s a bit odd but one the whole it’s kind of one of those moments that after you have a chance to think about is one that you realise is great.
Also full credit here to Mark Dos Santos whose work on Imperial made me a huge fan for what he brings to the table. I mean there’s this whole sense of awe, wonder and fancy to the work that has an all-ages appeal to it but doesn’t come off as all-ages. His eye for storytelling using angles, perspective and the all important use of backgrounds to control the ebb and flow of the story is brilliantly done. The creativity and imagination on display is wonderfully imagined so that the creatures look both frightening and yet not monstrous. A feat by the way I don’t think is easy to accomplish.
When we are introduced to Lark I like the fact that we don’t see the moment she’s brought to this new world. So in my head it’s like the old Dungeons & Dragons cartoon where she goes on a ride and ends up there whether she wanted to be or not. Once there however before she has a chance to figure out what’s what she’s under some kind of siege, what she did and why these men are out for her blood is kind of irrelevant because it’s all about seeing her realise she isn’t in Kansas (okay Los Angeles) anymore and how she reacts to that fact.
I really enjoyed the way the story was structured and how we as an audience were introduced to this world. I love the way it feels like something out of the Hobbit and turns into something like The Magic School Bus or Reading Rainbow. There’s a lot of unexpected moments in this to fall in love with and fully enjoy and realise that this really could be for just about anyone and everyone.
Y’all need to make sure you order this from your local shoppe or subscription service. Bill and Mark outdo themselves with the work the present and you’ll find yourself lost in this world despite yourself.