Incursion #1
Publisher: Valiant Entertainment
Story: Andy Diggle and Alex Paknadel
Pencils: Doug Braithwaite
Colors: José Villarrubia and Diego Rodriguez
Letters: Marshall Dillon
Covers: Doug Braithwaite with Diego Rodriguez, Roberto De La Torre, and Tonci Zonjic
Incursion #1 is the first installment of a four-part futuristic fantasy series from Valiant Entertainment. In this world, Diggle and Paknadel introduce Imperatrix Virago, a tyrannical necromancer who drains all life from each planet she inhabits. As the story begins, we inevitably turn to earth and the duo of heroes that must save us from this powerful enemy that has chosen us as her next host planet. This tried and true science-fiction and fantasy trope is coupled with a vintage art style to create a comfortable, but intriguing new series.
One area where we see a new science-fiction/fantasy trend appear is with the potential heroes. Tama is a young girl and a geomancer in training. Tama’s travel companion and the man tasked with training and protecting her is Gilad, an immortal servant of the earth. The geomancer is not a new concept, but it has recently been popularized by N.K. Jemisen’s award winning Broken Earth trilogy. Since the publication of The Fifth Season in 2015, geomancers have begun to make their way back to the forefront of fantasy and science fiction stories.
As a result of these chosen heros, Diggle and Paknadel are able to introduce moral questions around environmental issues. Tama’s connection to the earth causes her to prioritize a living, thriving planet over her own basic needs, like feeding herself. Whereas Gilad, a warrior and embattled pragmatist, believes that hunting and eating is a must to keep up their strength for the trials to come.
It is easy to draw comparisons between Imperatrix Virago and the insatiable corporate machine that consumes natural resources in the real world. She is advised by her council to cease the production of her “infection” or risk the failure of her current host planet’s ecosystem. She sits aloft her throne, blames the failures of science, and is only concerned with her desires. Hunger, death, and decimation do not impact her. She has already sent her emissaries out to find her next victim.
There isn’t much character development in this first of four comics. We are introduced to our heroes and villain and we are introduced to this new world. A few clues are dropped regarding the bleak outlook of the future, but there isn’t much connection. The past is murky and we aren’t really sure of the significance of Tama and Gilad in the fight against Imperatrix Virago just yet. There is quite a bit of backstory potential here. What has happened to Earth? Where did Tama and Gilad come from? Who tasked Gilad with protecting Tama? Who is Imperatrix Virago and where did she come from? What role does the Book of the Geomancer play in stopping the death and destruction? There is no indication of which of these plot lines the authors may choose to develop, but there is plenty of opportunity for the crafting of an interesting story.
Braithwaite’s art style is a gritty, rough sketch that matches the harshness of our characters’ reality. There are lots of dark lines, almost as if done in charcoal or heavy pencil. This art isn’t meant to be beautiful, it is meant to communicate despair, fear, and the toll of a relentless drain. Villarrubia’s and Rodriguez’s colors are muted, pale, and matte. Everything is faded, dirty, and worn. The world is dry, parched, and cracked. It’s truly the picture of a dying world. I found it a perfect match for the stark landscape that is the backdrop of this story.
Ultimately I think this series will combine the dark storytelling of a futuristic fantasy tale with social commentary on the state of our planet. I’m not sure that the story is meant to steer readers toward any solution or action, but rather to evoke emotion at the possibility of things to come. What will become of young Tama? Will she be able to save us from ourselves? Will her concern and connection to living things save us from the enemy? I look forward to finding out as story of Incursion unfolds.
FrankieReads
frankiereads@comicattack.net