One Nation: Stronghold #1
Publisher: 133 Art
Writer: Greg A. Elysee
Art: Antonello Cosentino
Colors: Carlos Lopez
Letters: Loris Ravina
Cover: Antonello Cosentino & Carlos Lopez
One of the hardest working writers in comics returns along with a stellar creative team that helps make One Nation: Stronghold deserving of being in your read pile. Yes, this is high praise for a book right at the beginning of a review but might as well let you know now before we get into some specifics.
We’re introduced to Damian at an earlier point in his life before becoming a member of the Tenth, a group of superheroes who are looking out for the common man and upsetting those in power. It’s in these early years that Elysee goes straight to the heart of Damian’s past with some poignant dialogue and just an overall great amount of character development. See, Damian is a Black man growing up in the deep south who is struggling with his sexuality (thanks to religion) and has Albinism. Seeing all of this had me wondering if Greg even likes his main character after giving him the trifecta on the struggle wheel. From the family drama that would make your favorite trash reality tv show jealous, to Damian’s conflict with the religious dogma he’s been bombarded with in regards to his sexuality, this guy’s formative years were not easy. However, it’s these moments that Elysee writes so raw and packed with emotion that you feel each and every one. So when you see Damian being heroic and a protector, you can tell that he’s already overcome so much.
We’re also introduced to several other characters from the Tenth and their adversaries during a lengthy fight sequence. Blabbermouth’s intro has got to be one of the most disrespectful displays of a power-set thanks to Loris Ravina’s letters and that onomatopoeia. Honestly, if I was Optical, that would have been the part where I just walked off the battlefield. While Elysee does add some dialogue that gives hints to a shared past between some of the characters that strengthens the sequence, it’s the visual storytelling from Consentino, Lopez, and Ravina that put the exclamation point on this one. The flow of the action and displays of power were the highlight during this kinetic and exciting fight.
As things come to a close, Elysee sends our hero on an emotional rollercoaster that will have you impatiently waiting for the next issue to see what happens. Thanks to superb world-building and strong visuals, One Nation: Stronghold #1 is a superhero comic that organically and effectively touches on areas of inclusion and diversity that most superhero books seem too timid to venture into. It’s a good thing we have creatives like these offering stories for a wider audience of comic readers that are worth your time!
Infinite Speech
infinitespeech@comicattack.net
