Tomorrow is a harmonious paradise thanks to five families who make everything perfect…for the price of one child per household. Now, as that bill comes due, a son expected to give everything for a family that never loved him and an affluent daughter determined to destroy utopia must unite to end one generation’s unnaturally protracted reign. That concept is cool, but The Sacrificers #1 will let you know little about that, barely delivering hints as to what’s to come.

Written by Rick Remender, The Sacrificers #1 is an intriguing start to the series. We’re introduced to a family working a farm whose oldest is kept away in the barn. We’re also introduced to the daughter of a godlike being who doesn’t follow the rules. Why any of this matters isn’t clear as this debut sets things up but explains very little.

The Sacrificers #1 feels like a small sliver of the bigger picture. As a graphic novel where you could continue on, it’d work well as a tease and start but with a break waiting for the next issue, the debut doesn’t deliver enough to make things interesting. The one aspect, the son kept separate from the family, doesn’t quite have the emotional impact it should. We don’t know where he’s going or why. There’s also the aspect of an abusive father, which makes me conflicted about the son being dragged away in shackles. While where he’s going doesn’t seem positive, at least he’s away from the abuse. We should be dreading what’s to come but without an emotional connection between the son and his family, his being dragged away lacks any tug at the heart strings.

Still, Max Fiumara‘s art is beautiful. With color by Dave McCaig and lettering by Rus Wooton, The Sacrificers #1 is great to look at. The characters are interesting. The backgrounds are interesting. There’s some small details that make things stand out. It overall feels like a world Jim Henson might create. It’s fantastic. If only the story was up to the art’s level.

The Sacrificers #1 introduces an intriguing world and potential concept but the first issue really lacks a “why” of it all. It teases what’s to come and lacks context of what’s presented. As is, it’s a piece of the bigger puzzle. This one might be better read as a collection than individual issues.

Story: Rick Remender Art: Max Fiumara
Color: Dave McCaig Letterer: Rus Wooton
Story: 7.0 Art: 9.0 Overall: 7.0 Recommendation: Read

Image Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

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