Review: Rumble #1
Written by: John Arcudi
Art: David Rubin
Colours: Dave Stewart
Publisher: Image Comics
Nearly a year and a half after the last offering from Rumble hit the shelves, Arcudi returns with a new run that threatens to take Rathraq to new dizzying heights. This time around, David Rubin steps into James Harren’s shoes and the results, though noticeably different, still marry well with Arcudi’s fantasy styled epic. For those new to the title, the first run of Rumble gained a throng of dedicated fans. The heady mix of fantasy action, bizarro creatures and smart artwork resonated with readers. Expect more of the same. But is the new run playing off of the success of the original, groundbreaking series or will it stand on its own three, scaly feet?
The book kicks off with the passing down of the legend of Rathraq, a warrior-god saviour who fought back the Esu, a race of monstrous creatures, sent scattered to live out their remaining days on Earth. Meanwhile, Rathraq himself simply disappeared, leaving only the tale of his demise at the hands of the Esu queen ringing in the ears of future generations. The story starts proper in modern times on Earth, as Rathraq once more appears, resurrected as a menacing looking being made of rope and straw – a scarecrow of sorts. His strange exterior, however, retains his explosive rage, a rage that burns in desire of vengeance. As the Esu emerge from the shadows, the realisation that they’re on the menu sinks in and panicked creatures begin to consider a survival plan. While the opening sequences feel epic and center around a defining battle against the Esu, action doesn’t take center stage throughout the remaining pages. Dialogue and foundation building are the order of the day, and whilst this is no doubt essential for the success of the following issues, I couldn’t help but feel a little deflated after an awesome opening.
Any readers familiar with the previous Rumble series will have appreciated the sheer level of detail Harren brought to the mix. Rubin’s work is not wholly dissimilar. The cartoony style captures the monstrous Esu perfectly with each entity being distinct from the last, which is no easy task considering the numbers involved. Facial expressions on all characters are energetic and alive, and the use of thick pencil work and rich shading and blackwork gives the book a darker look. Some sequences do stand out in their use of almost abstract imaging, maybe like graffiti art that encompasses a full palate of vibrant colours as well as eye-catching perspective. These highlight frames, I would gladly frame and display. Outstanding.
All in all, the series bursts back onto the shelves with statement art and a dynamic feel to the whole book. Yes, I would have liked a little more action but the ending promises much more to come.
Skully’s Corner: Why buy this book? If, like me, you’re a fan of a bit of sword and sorcery then this will be the title for you. Great looking monsters, one of whom looked like my ex-ghoulfriend, and the promise of some epic battles won me over. Right, I’m off to find my little black book…
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Review written by Arun Sharma.
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