The Realm Vol. 1
Publisher: Image Comics
Story: Seth M. Peck
Pencils: Jeremy Haun
Colors: Nick Filardi
Letters: Thomas Mauer
Cover: Jeremy Haun & Nick Filardi
‘The Realm Vol. 1’ is a mind-searing thrill ride of fantastical action and adventure. Based in a post-apocalyptic U.S., this comic imagines our world as a desolate landscape where orc warbands, dragons, goblins, and other mythical creatures are real. Over the past 10 years, monsters and magic have taken their toll on our world, wreaking havoc and leaving little but death in their wake. It’s not safe to travel alone, so people seek out the services of mercenaries like our main character, Will Nolan. His job is to transport them safely from one bleak and dangerous location to the next.
In this first volume, Nolan has just taken a job as a guide to a band of warriors and scientists. They’re carrying mysterious cargo and the group must rely on one another to survive the inevitable terrors they’ll encounter along the way. It’s on this journey that we meet lots of compelling characters with special powers, interesting looks, and varying personalities.
‘The Realm Vol. 1’ brings monsters traditionally found in sword and sorcery fantasy to a gritty, city landscape. It’s an exciting mix between D&D and urban fantasy. It was fun to see characters in Legolas & Gandalf-like garb fighting amongst city litter, concrete, and skyscrapers. There was one particular scene where the group was fleeing an orc warband that reminded me of the Mines of Moria in ‘The Fellowship of the Ring’ by J.R.R. Tolkien.
There are plenty of Grimdark elements including an anti-hero motivated by survival and money, morally ambiguous characters, and lots of stark panels of the urban wastelands. Characters must scavenge all they can and be creative to survive. They’re alive because they trust their instincts and little else.
There is a large cast of characters and changes in point of view keep the story moving at a fast clip. Readers are thrown head-first into this world and are kept on their toes as each mysterious new character steps on the scene. Not to mention, the action moves at breakneck speed. Humans are fighting for their lives using an arsenal of weapons, hand to hand combat, and magical powers. To top things off nicely, there is a diverse cast with male & female characters of varying hues and ethnicities in a multitude of roles. There are no damsels in distress or ‘Harry Potters’ here. Even when you think there may be a character trope rearing its ugly head, Peck & Haun manage to turn things around and surprise the reader. My favorite character so far is Ben, the vicious red-headed orc-slayer with an enviable beard and a wicked hunting mask.
I had several “wow” moments with action scenes, characters revealing their magical powers, and just a general enjoyment of Haun’s artwork. There is an epic battle scene toward the end and Haun does an incredible job of bringing the story to life. There are plenty of close-up blood & gore scenes, plus excellent highlights of the warriors going to work.
All-in-all, I have to say I liked this comic quite a bit. I read the full first volume in one shot because I was so engrossed in the story. What struck me most was the no-nonsense approach to story-telling. Peck & Haun didn’t waste a lot of time with boring info-dumps or lengthy characterizations that would weigh down the pace. They hook the reader in with action and plot almost immediately. Yet, I did not get the sense that I couldn’t connect to the characters. Rather, I was curious to know more and that kept me reading. Each new character was revealed with tasty morsels of information about their skills or reputation. In the end, we realize each person brings something important to the table. There is plenty of potential for this series with character origin stories, a full telling of how monsters came to our world, and what the future may hold for our ragtag band of reluctant heroes. I cannot wait to get my hands on the next volume of this epic series.
Frankie Reads
