Writer: Dan Watters
Artist: Jon Davis-Hunt
Letterer: Troy Peteri
Senior Designer: Sandy Tanaka
Senior Art Director: Jenny Frissen
Editors: Jake Thomas and Rob Levin
Thanks to Humanoids for the review copy!
A new original story set in The Incal universe and written by acclaimed writer Dan Watters of Coffin Bound, Homesick Pilots, and most recently, the hot mini-series The Seasons Have Teeth. He is joined by talented artist Jon Davis-Hunt whose work has been seen in Judge Dredd, Clean Room, The Wild Storm, and many other titles. The disgraced and mutated pirate Commander Kaimann is back and he’s hatched a new heist plan for his formerly dead holographic crew and himself. When he finds a mysterious relic in the form of a violin and begins to play it, he’s connected through space and time to a young woman on another plane. While her fate has been temporarily sealed by the impending invasion of enemy forces, Kaimann finds renewed faith in himself as a possible mate and savior of this girl. With renewed vigor and newfound love, Kaimann continues to seek out a cure for his mutation and the girl he loves, before it’s too late.
I absolutely loved this book. Dan Watters has just been killing it lately and I’d wager he’s near the top of the list when it comes to top writers in the industry for 2023. This book perfectly fits the style, mood, and magic of the Incal Universe. It has everything you could want in a graphic novel. Romance, mystery, action, drama, comedy, witty dialogue, etc. You name it! It doesn’t waste any time getting into the nitty gritty and you feel a sense of attachment to the main character, Commander Kaimann, almost immediately. He’s not a good person but he has all the charm and wit of a prince. He’s a much more complicated character than you are led to believe at the book’s beginning. It’s hard not to root for him as you learn about his abusive and emotional childhood and being cast out by his people. Strangely though, his confidence and determination to complete his mission are rivaled by none. He will not be deterred from curing his deformity. He will not be stopped from getting back to the girl. He will not be swayed at any cost. Of course, this means the book doesn’t necessarily have a happy ending but it’s one that is fitting. Commander Kaimann isn’t the type of person who ever gets the girl, the treasure or has any major victories but it would seem the life that he has chosen to live and the choices he has made will have been made by him and him only! He’s lived by his rules and followed his own path. It is in this way that he is a champion of life. We can’t leave this review without mentioning the art and lettering. Both are just fantastic. The space pirate wardrobe, the tech, the world building and detail. It’s all pitch perfect! It’s a fantastic homage to Mœbius and his trademark style. You can tell there was clear dedication to preserving the look and feel of the Incal Universe and it blends perfectly with the lettering to make Dan’s writing pop. It’s the total package and we can only hope that there will be further discussions about bringing this character back for more stories in the future.
My rating 10/10 Superb!
THE INCAL: DYING STAR is now available.
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