DESCENDER #1 Review


Has Jeff Lemire struck sci-fi gold? Or is the premise more alluring than the final product? Read on to find out.

The official description from Image:

One young robot’s struggle to stay alive in a universe where all androids have been outlawed and bounty hunters lurk on every planet. A rip-roaring and heart-felt cosmic odyssey that pits humanity against machine, and world against world, to create a sprawling space opera from the creators of Trillium, Sweet Tooth, and Little Gotham. Extra-sized first issue. 30 story pages for only $2.99!

Descender #1 cvr BScience fiction is a genre that’s always fascinated me, as between the cosmic travels of man (or aliens), and the more technological ground based tales, there’s plenty to allure. Descender falls somewhere in between these two factors, as when a group of intergalactic robots, known as Harvesters, arrive at the edge of Niyrata, the only lead to understanding these beings, lies within a child companion A.I. unit known as Tim-21.

Jeff Lemire never ceases to amaze, as whether it’s being an impeccable artist or a wonderful script writer, his storytelling prowess is always to a high standard. This only goes to increase tenfold in his creator owned work, as despite being one of DC‘s best writers, his imagination runs rampant on these independent tales. This remains the case with Descender, as despite the opening sequence having a lot of complex elements, it quickly leads into a fascinating narrative. Lemire also introduces us to some intriguing characters, as well as a wonderful premise, thus grabbing my attention, and leaving me excited for the second issue.

Dustin Nguyen is an artist who I’ve admired for a long time, as having been introduced to comics through Batman, I have become accustomed to his art style. Despite this, I have discovered Nguyen’s style to be ill suited to certain series or characters, as though he excels on the likes of Batman, his art can feel a little jarring on the likes of Superman. Luckily Descender proves to be a series perfectly suited to his style, with the edgy layouts, and majestic scenery mesmerizing. His character designs also proves eye catching, with the innocent, yet robotic look of Tim-21, and the ominous presence of the Harvesters adding real depth. The colours also prove to be breathtaking, with the mixture of vibrant and dark tones generating great atmosphere.

Descender #1 delivers the king of plot that all opening issues should aspire to, as though it gives great depth to this new world, it does so in a way that neither feels dull or overbearing. It also has a mixture of fun, and imposing elements, with the mysterious overtones leaving this fanboy eager for more.

OUR RATING
10
  • + Introduces us to a wonderful new world.
  • + Tim-21 is a very intriguing character.
  • + Fantastic storytelling from Lemire and Nguyen.
  • + Mysterious elements throughout.

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