COMIC BOOK REVIEW: Humanoid's Redhand: Twilight of the Gods Oversized Deluxe Edition

[JessHorsley]

Kurt Busiek's Massive Futuristic Sci-Fi Tome Hits Book Shelves...

When I think of comic writer Kurt Busiek, I immediately think of super heroes - Marvel and DC Comics. The man is the mastermind behind some of the best Avengers and Justice League stories not to mention Busiek's creator-owned super hero series, Astro City. However, it's not often I think of Kurt Busiek writing sci-fi.

Humanoid Publishing, one of the best sci-fi and fantasy publishers in the world, contacted Busiek years ago to find out if he had anything in the book cooker and what he delivers is the first half of the masterpiece that is Redhand: Twilight of the Gods. Told in a seamless, two-part story with the first part by Busiek and artist Mario Alberti and the second half written by Sam Timel with artwork by Bazal, the fact that the two writers' and artists' work flow so well together makes this one of the few stories told by two separate teams that's actually extremely enjoyable.

Redhand tells an engaging, beautifully progressive tale of our hero's search for meaning, purpose and reason. A test-tube soldier who's woken up hundreds of years after he's needed, Redhand finds himself adapting to his new surroundings and the people he encounters fairly easily thanks to the ingrained martial skills and the unique abilities his clone genes grant him. Unfortunately, he's also the one a dark prophecy warns of; the one who would bring death to the gods. So, when Redhand makes it his purpose to discover just who the gods are and why he was created, he stumbles into a self-fulfilling prophecy that results in his attempting to overthrow an empire, kill the gods, meet his maker and establish a possible future in which humanity has a restored peace.

Busiek brings to life an amazing future that's both post-apocalyptic and something medieval and ancient. The people we first run into are tribal, hunting others in order to build their slave armies. One such tribe welcomes Redhand and brings him into their fold. Soon, however, their shaman – using mystical magic (aka - long-lost technology) deems Redhand a threat to their tribe. This of course leads to a battle that includes a big monster raising its weary head, fire and a lot of dead bodies. And Redhand seeking more people to answer his question: “Who am I and why was I made?”

Maybe the most impressive part of the story plays out as Redhead discovers his purpose and begins to fulfill the prophecy that many say he was created for: to kill the gods. Like Moses to the ancient Israelites, Redhand begins leading an enslaved people with renewed hope…and a righteous anger that leads to battling those who oppress them and oppose freedom (below).

Artist Mario Alberti draws the brutal future of Redhand in a way that’s chaotic, appealing and beautiful. The use of splash pages and bold panel construction and design (above, below) delivers a unique way to visually tell the story while ensuring the flow never slows or feels awkward. Likewise, Bazal brings amazing robotic designs and futuristic weaponry to life on the page during the second half of the story, ensuring the elements which make this book science fiction are not lost. Both artists and their styles bring to the page artwork that’s reminiscent of sci-fi we’ve seen before and yet the designs, ideas and storytelling seems fresh and new.

Overall, Redhand: Twilight of the Gods tells an exciting, entertaining and fun story that’s action-packed, character-driven and beautifully realized on the comic page. Add to this the large, oversized book and pages which provide an enjoyable viewing and ready opportunity and the durable and well-designed slipcover that comes around the massive tome and you’ve got a graphic novel that makes for a perfect addition to every sci-fi fan’s collection.

Not to be missed, Redhand: Twilight of the Gods is available now wherever fine graphic novels and comic books are sold.

- Jess C. Horsley

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