THE RED STAR #1 Writer / Artists: Christian Gossett + B.J. Kayl "Environmental Engineer": A.D. Coulter Color Design: Snakebite Publisher: Image Comics
The Plot: On a visit to her dead husband's grave, the Sorceress Maya reminisces about the battle that destroyed the United Republics of the Red Star.
I've been getting a bit burnt out on Manga in the last few months, but this is a terrific debut for what I think will bring a breath of fresh air to what has become an overused medium. At first, this seems like a futuristic tale set in an alternate version of Russia, but there's a lot more to this powerful war story that delves into the worlds of fantasy and magic.
The storytelling is strong, told mainly in narration from Maya's point of view over scenes of the war as she recounts the battle that pitted the URRS's technology against the magic of the Nistaani people. As a sorceress, Maya is a living weapon used by the URRS to stop the religious insurrection of the Nistaani, and the writing beautifully exemplifies the fear that goes through her mind as her body transforms into an energy blast emitted from the URRS's Sky Furnaces.
There is no question that this is some of the most breathtaking art I've seen in a color Manga book, looking more like some of the comics out of Hong Kong, like the excellent Solar Lord, than like the more traditional Japanese variety. Each panel combines line art, 3-D computer animation and various coloring techniques to create a realistic vision of the futuristic war.
The Sky Furnaces that are the URRS's primary battle weapons are stunning to behold especially when they let loose their full power.
With THE RED STAR, Christian Gossett has developed a fascinating story on a world with an abundant history, combining reality with fantasy and SF to form something unlike anything I've read before. I'm simply amazed that this was done by American creators as it has a similar tone and flavor to some of the classic dramatic Manga that I've enjoyed in the past, such as 2001 NIGHTS and ADOLF. This is sure to be missed by many people who may enjoy it, and I definitely recommend giving it a glance at the comic shop. The beautiful art alone should convince you to pick it up, but the writing and storytelling will guarantee that you return with the next issue.
