The recent success of the Crossgen line of comics gives us hope for the future. While perhaps the last thing we need is another comic universe, what we do need is some new blood to give the comic industry a little of the excitement that it has missed since the speculator boom of the early '90s. Crossgen seemed doomed to failure. It was hyped heavily. It based much of its' titles on science fiction concepts. It mostly featured the work of solid industry veterans who had never graced the Wizard "top Ten" list. Most importantly, many felt that no matter how good the books might have been, the market just couldn't support a new comic line. Happily, the Crossgen line has been a steady success, with readership on most titles growing each month.
The First is Crossgen's first new title since it's original core of four titles was introduced six months ago. It is written by Barbara Kesel and illustrated by Bart Sears, who has graced a Wizard "Top Ten" list or two. It concerns the Nayado, a race who are on the verge of extinction after countless years of war with the Shinacean forces. Todosi, a Nayado warlord, is marked with the Sigil and given a measure of his gods power. He is nonetheless overwhelmed by the far greater Shinacean numbers. Visited by gods in the midst of the battles aftermath and carnage, he slays one of the gods. As he is himself slain, the power of the sigil is passed to his brother.
Bart Sears (inked here by his usual embellisher Andy Smith) turns in fine work. The story is mostly a majestic battle and he alternates between large action spreads and small, claustrophobic panels. The overall effect is certainly spectacular, as intended. Sears is in his element with heroes bursting with power, and he has a lot of that to draw here. The color is beautifully done and some of the pages function very well as stand alone pieces of art. It is virtually a textbook on how to draw battle sequences. As can often be a danger in books like this, however, the art overpowers the story. Barbara Kesel is a solid writer, but here gets bogged down with a confusing story. Perhaps she was counting too much on readers that were already familiar with the rest of the Crossgen comics. It is only a bare bones story that is mostly set up for the thrust of the story to come. It is majestically illustrated and that ultimately carries the book. Even if you are not normally a Bart Sears fan (Which I am not), you should find the work here worth your money.
