In Knights Temporal #1, when Auguste de Riviere returned from the Crusades, he was ashamed and horrified by the things he had done. Hoping to reclaim his soul, he pledges to root out evil wherever it might be found. But when he pursued a vile sorcerer into a forbidden forest, his life was shattered. Auguste ventured into the dark forest, but emerged in the modern world. Accompanied now by the enigmatic Jane Fool, Auguste hunts a madman while trying to piece together the mystery of his very existence.

Writer Cullen Bunn has been delivering some amazing horror series lately. Knights Temporal #1 feels like nothing Bunn is currently writing. The first issue delivers an action focused debut setting up a fantasy mystery. Cutting back and forth between modern times and the past, the series teases a lot but doesn’t quite deliver answers. If you don’t read the series previews text it might be downright confusing really. But, what the issue does well is set things up nicely giving us a fantasy series in the modern world. It’s full of action throwing the reader in the middle of it and if it were a movie’s first 15 minutes I’d be hooked to see what comes next.

That’s helped by the art of Fran Galan. There’s a certain style to it that reminds me of 1990s Image that I enjoyed. It’s a compliment really. The style has a little bit of a manga influence thrown in and with fantastic colors, it delivers on Bunn’s fast-paced opening chapter.

This is a good first chapter. It’s full of action and while a lot is left out there as an opening to an action story, it has me more than hooked and interested.

Story: Cullen Bunn Art: Fran Galan Letters: Dave Sharpe
Story: 8.0 Art: 8.35 Overall: 8.15 Recommendation: Buy

Aftershock provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review