After the fall of the Britons and the Roman invasion of Hibernia, the captive known only as the Druid is released, sending a darkness across the world…an age of horrors, of fire and entrails. As the innocent burn in the Wicker fields, those who would resist learn of the existence of a man who even the Druid fears. Unnatural Order #1 is an interesting debut whose ending and marketing is what really stands out.
Written by Christopher Yost, Unnatural Order #1 is an intriguing comic. Unlike others, it was offered for free to comic shops resulting in an impressive amount being ordered. The thought process is simple, get enough out there to start you then hook enough people to come back for the second issue and beyond and make the money there. But, to do that you need a really solid debut issue. I’m not sure Unnatural Order #1 really pulls that off.
The comic introduces us to The Druid, a being were supposed to fear but with little to go off of other than his powers and what others say, it’s a villain that feels more myth than actually a threat.
Beyond that opening, much of what we know is a group of survivors who have banded together and whose lives have been ruined by the Druid. We get a bit of what he did to them and their backgrounds but none of it really connects enough to deliver the fear and strength that Yost is going through with his force of nature. The telling isn’t as effective as the showing would be.
The group decides to split, never a good idea, with some going after the Druid trying to destroy his base of power while the others on a mission to free a person who the Druid fears. If you skipped the solicit, who that person is, is actually interesting but after the long slog to get there, it feels a little too little too late.
The issue is a bit choppy in its narrative jumping locations as our band of warriors travel and none of it really connecting together. It’s a series of events and scenes as opposed to a flowing narrative. The end result feels very choppy like there’s sequences that ended on the cutting room floor.
The art by Val Rodrigues is good. With color by Deadbhla Kelly and lettering by Andworld Design, the art captures both the fantasy and hellish nature of what’s going on. The character have a unique look but at the same time cohesive. The Druid’s powers and his allies have a nightmarish quality about them that’s interesting like the overall concept. None of it is really explained, so the visuals are what stands out as far as that.
Unnatural Order #1 has an interesting ending, enough for me to see where it’s going for the second issue but I’m not sure it gets to that quickly enough or an interesting way. Things drag on a bit and how it’s all presented doesn’t really build to either excitement or builds up the dread. It just kind of is. Still, depending on how your shop treats the issue, it’s worth picking up if it’s free or cheap but beyond that, not sure it’s worth the cover price on its own.
Story: Christopher Yost Art: Val Rodrigues
Color: Dearbhla Kelly Letterer: Andworld Design
Story: 7.0 Art: 8.0 Overall: 7.0 Recommendation: Read
Vault Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle
