Writers: Eric Nguyen and Scott Burman
Artist: Eric Nguyen
Colorist: Iwan Joko Triyono
Letterer: Micah Myers
Designer: Kristofer McRae
Digital Art Technician: Josie Weaver
Thanks to Eric Nguyen and Dark Horse for the review copy!
White Savior is a parody of movies where the white character is needed to save a poor helpless village (think Tom Cruise’s The Last Samurai). In this case, the white savior is actually an idiot who is destined to lead the poor villagers to their demise. The main character is a modern guy named Todd who is transported into the past who is trying to save the village from the White Savior. This issue features an unlikely team-up that provides the writers with some breathing room to flesh out the story.
The issue doesn’t take itself too seriously as it pokes fun at the tropes of the genre. The dialogue and narration (both by Todd and the writers) is very meta. I don’t want to spoil any of the jokes, but the editors’ notes are particularly funny. There is also a scene focusing on the big bad villain that had me laughing out loud. The series is drawn like a serious action book and the juxtaposition with the silly dialogue makes the jokes funnier. The writing deserves credit for creating quippy dialogue for Todd without seeming to try too hard. Even the best quippers (Deadpool, Spider-Man) have lines that fall flat, but through 2 issues, White Savior has managed to avoid that. Thus far, White Savior gives Todd a great balance of earnestness and awkwardness.
As the editors helpfully note, the second issue really is enhanced by reading the first, so I recommend starting with issue 1. The introductory narration can get you up to speed so you know what is going on, but I always recommend starting a high concept story like this with the beginning. This is issue 2 of 4 so you can enjoy the story without worrying about making a huge commitment. Fans of action movies in general and ‘white savior’ movies in particular will appreciate White Savior’s comedy. This issue features a pretty big reveal and ends on a cliffhanger, so odds are you will be looking forward to issue 3.
White Savior #2 is set to be released on February 15th 2023.
Are you going pick up the comic? Feel free to leave a comment below or chat with us on Twitter at @TheConCollectve!
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