On a scarred landscape, two otherworldly armies prepare to battle one last time, vying for control of a massive tower named from an ancient language no longer permitted to be spoken.

One army is led by a primeval force named Babel, whose goal is singular: to breach “Heaven” no matter the cost. The only thing standing in his way is a gray-haired barbaric warrior, filled with rage and regret, a man who sees this battle as his last chance for redemption. But he knows his depleted forces have little chance of victory unless aid comes.

Enter Tama: A 12-year old girl on the crest of a hill overlooking the battle, who has just become humanity’s only hope. The last in an ancient line of mystics who protect the Earth, she has foreseen this battle and knows millions will perish if she’s unable to stop it. Now Tama and her ragtag team of malcontents – Ninjak, Shadowman and Punk Mambo – must somehow defeat an elder god hell bent on piercing the heavens.

Continuing on from Matt Kindt‘s run on the recently concluded Ninjak, Rapture #1 sees the return of Tama the Geomancer from the seminal Book Of Death miniseries from a few years ago. Although it’ll likely help if you have some familiarity with Ninjak and Shadowman, for this issue at least, it won’t hamper your enjoyment of the story if you’re picking this up purely because of the numbering.

I mean, honestly, who doesn’t like a first issue?

Rapture #1 sets the stage for the story largely from Tama’s point of view, which allows readers to get reacquainted with the Geomancer as she explains why she needs Ninjak, Punk Mambo, and Shadowman. And does she explain… One of the surprising reasons I am so taken with the series already is the way that Kindt peppers in some lighter moments that I probably found funnier than they were intended to be. I say surprising reasons because I genuinely wasn’t expecting to find the comic funny. Obviously I hoped I’d like it, but I never expected to laugh.

Cafu provides typical Cafu art here, and that is to say that the art is brilliant.

There’s brilliant distinction between the Deadside and our world such that even if you’re unfamiliar with the differences between the two you’ll be able to easily identify the two from the visual cues. I have no holes to pick, and no complaints about this issue.

This is the second comic from Valiant that I’ve read this week, and it’s also a blinder.

 

Story: Matt Kindt Art: Cafu Colours: Andrew Dalhouse Letterer: Dave Sharpe
Story: 9.5 Art: 9.0 Overall: 9.5 Recommendation: Buy

Valiant provided a FREE copy for review, but I read the physical copy I purchased from my LCS.