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!
Have you seen the movie where the white guy goes to a village of some sort to save them? Of course you have, because Hollywood loves that plot. White Savior is a satire that takes this well worn plot device (specifically as it is used in The Last Samurai) and turns it on its head. Instead of a hero who saves the day, the white savior in this book is an idiot who leads them to defeat. Instead of being about the title character, the story is about the Asian guy who has to convince everyone not to follow the white savior.
White Savior #1 is hilarious. The lead character is genuinely funny, with a steady stream of quips that skewer the ridiculousness of the genre and the setup for the story. I found myself laughing out loud more than once. Not only is the writing funny, but there’s a level of social commentary deftly layered in.
The art feels consistent with an ancient samurai epic story, which makes a great juxtaposition with the writing. Some of the lines are simply more funny because of the context in which they appear. There is some blood, but it is very stylized, so I don’t think it would be overly disturbing for younger readers. With that said, I think the concept is more likely to be appreciated by people who will recognize the ‘white savior’ movie trope.
I feel this title most clearly parodies The Last Samurai, and I think if you like that movie you will really enjoy this book. Thanks to clever writing, White Savior is funny enough to enjoy without being familiar with the target of its satire. The first issue, which is part 1 of 4, serves as a great set up for the story to come.
White Savior #1 is set to be released on January 11th 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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