Milton Shaw is a battle-hardened bomber pilot, flying missions over a war-torn world ruled by a ruthless empire. But when his plane is shot out of the sky, Milton wakes up behind enemy lines—in the smoldering ruins of a city he helped burn. And in less than 24 hours, his own side is dropping the big one to finish the job. Escape #1 is a familiar war story with characters that aren’t exactly human.

Written by Rick Remender with beautiful art by Daniel Acuña, Escape #1 is a solid entry for those who enjoy war stories. A bombing raid goes wrong with a plane shot down and a crew member trying to survive behind enemy lines. It’s not a complicated story and it’s one we’ve seen many times before. But, Escape #1 presents it all in a solid issue that delivers enough that it’s not just a war story with animals acting human.

Escape #1 anthropomorphizes the characters with various types of dogs battling it out. The series doesn’t split factions out as different types of animals like the recent Animal Pound or the classic Maus, but I’m sure there’s more that can be read into what type of dog was chosen for each role. Where Remender’s writing really stands out is the drama but also the chatter as the crew travels to their bombing target. They debate how a nation can fall into tyranny, how fascism could have so easily taken root in Nazi Germany or how it’s currently taking root in the United States, and elsewhere, today. As they get closer to their target they debate what they would do in the situation and it’s clear the one remaining soldier has a to decide if he’ll stand up to tyranny and try to complete his mission or if he’ll decide to try and escape and survive. It moves from words to action.

Acuña’s art is as great as expected. With lettering by Rus Wooton, the comic has Acuña’s flair but feels like a modern gritty war movie in a World War II setting. I’m sure there’s something to the types of dogs chosen, but I don’t have enough knowledge to really weigh in on that. But, the comic’s art doesn’t feel like the sweeping epic of modern war films like Saving Private Ryan, but instead a bit more intimate and in a way grittier affair.

Escape #1 is a great start and a comic that fans of war comics should pick up and enjoy. Though it features characters that look like dogs, there’s an emotional punch to the story with a focus on details and a tension that makes it gripping.

(W) Rick Remender (A) Daniel Acuña
(C) Daniel Acuña (L) Rus Wooton
Story: 8.0 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.0 Recommendation: Buy

Image Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

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