Wow! If you are looking for a graphic novel that you can really get your teeth into then Asylum Volume 1- New Born is definitely one for you! Packed with contrasts and high level concepts, this black and white title is completely out of the ordinary.

The concept of Asylum is interesting, intriguing even, uniting religious and political ideas with ideas of freedom and justice. The main character, Eve, belongs to a gifted, elite group that follow the Father, whereas the un-gifted and ordinary are known as castoffs.  This social, religious and political divide is the backbone of the society and the background of the story.

The story-line centers around Eve and a group of castoffs who become companions. Although on occasion the conversation can seem a little stilted, forced or un-realistic, in general the plotline leaves you wanting to know more about what will happen. It sucks you right in there, taking sides and willing the good guys to win.  The writing is excellent at portraying the contrast between the two groups, particularly in terms of the language used, and for such a complex idea it is very well written.

Empathizing with the characters created is really simple as they are written in such a genuine way. The confusion and doubt that they feel is believable and the art really helps with this, especially at times when the dialogue feels slightly dry.  The situation the characters find themselves in, although possibly far-fetched is completely believable and I found the whole thing really gripping. The sharpness of the black and the white color tones really added depth, not just to the images, but to the story-line itself.

This graphic novel would not be complete without the epic fight scenes and the art really captures the movement of the characters, despite being a black and white piece.

Overall, this is a surprising and interesting read, one that you might continue to think about long after you have finished reading, I know I did!

Story: Gabriel Moore-Topazio Art: Gabriel Moore-Topazio
Story: 8 Art: 7 Overall: 8 Recommendation: Buy

Wrought Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review.