Who is the mysterious, musclebound warrior who came to our world in a storm of magic and violence?! That’s what public defender Irene Chang wants to know. This guy came out of nowhere, doesn’t speak English, and now she’s supposed to help him beat a murder charge after he chopped some other weird dude’s head off with a magic axe in broad daylight? Of course, he may not live to go to trial, with all the enemies he’s making in prison. Good thing his cellmate grills a mean cheese sandwich. Barbarian Behind Bars #1 kicks off a concept where you wonder why it hasn’t been done before.
It’s no surprise that I’d enjoy Barbarian Behind Bars #1. Written by Elliott Kalan, art by Andrea Mutti, and lettering by Taylor Esposito, it’s the team behind Maniac of New York, a series published by Aftershock that I loved and hope we get more of. And honestly, Barbarian Behind Bars #1 feels like a series that would have been released by that publisher.
The concept is very simple. A warrior from another time and place is arrested after battling his evil foe in modern times. Now, the justice system has to figure out what to do with him and he needs to continue hist quest against evil. It’s so simple, it’s brilliant.
Kalan delivers a fantastic start focusing on each aspect of the comic and doing so in a way that makes it really intriguing. A defense attorney needs to figure out how to deal with her client who speaks a language no one knows. A justice system needs to figure out how to deal with a murder of an individual who doesn’t exist by a person who doesn’t exist. And the barbarian needs to keep fighting evil to save his world but he’s behind bars. The combo is a series that nails it at every step.
The art by Mutti is excellent. It’s not too surprising as we’ve seen over and over what to expect. The initial battle looks epic in scope, to the point I hope we see more in flashbacks. The frustration of so many feels very real as you can see it in their body language and faces. The guards feel sleezy just looking at them. It’s all fantastic visuals that balance the fantastical and the grounded.
Taylor Esposito deserves and extra mention for the language spoken by the Barbarian. While it’s translated, you almost want to take the time to decipher it yourself, something that’s a challenge by others in the comic.
I had high expectations for Barbarian Behind Bars #1 when I saw the creative team and heard the concept and they’ve exceeded the high bar set for the debut issue. Like their previous team-up, this is a debut that you should absolute check out.
Story: Elliott Kalan Art: Andrea Mutti Letterer: Taylor Esposito
Story: 8.25 Art: 8.25 Overall: 8.25 Recommendation: Buy
Mad Cave Studios provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle
