Why does it seem that doing something can be viewed as vulgar until the right time or person comes along. At which point it becomes vanguard. Even if everything that glitters isn’t gold you should at least look for the silver lining. In The Last Barbarian #1 from Image Comics, that’s how Sylver, or Sylv for short, chooses to live. But, when a mysterious individual offers her some much needed coin, will the young woman finally become one of the guys.

The Last Barbarian opens in an alarming manner. The clanging of a tower bell and a watchman alert readers – and the keep’s guards – that there is some uncivilized behavior occurring. Lettering from Francis Takenagar narrates the thoughts of the individual responsible for creating the commotion. Moments later, Brian Hamberlin and Geirrod Van Dyke give readers their first look at the lowbrown thief and she looks like garbage. This may be due to the fact that Sylv, along with her crew, has made their escape via the one place everyone goes but no one wants to follow – the keep’s sewer.

As a dirty and disgusted Sylv stares at her brother Shadow, the reason they were almost caught, the intensity with which Hamberlin illustrates the young woman’s eyes is interesting. Especially when you consider her words. The cruelty in her eyes isn’t for her brother. Rather it seems to mirror the way the rest of the world looks upon Sylv.

Sylv has seen and been through a lot. Her memories later recall the incident that made her world so wild. In a nightmare flashback, Syv shows readers the day she lost her parents and Shadow lost his mind. The fires burning through the hay roofs of the town actually seem to be burning through the page.

Though the dramatically dark age scenery of this comic may seem similar to Plane 1301-A, The Last Barbarian features a different form of hellish landscape than Hellcop. As unforgivably harsh as the environment may look, the sin of being classless is what can leave someone like Sylv feeling the heat. Classless doesn’t refer to her manners, but no she doesn’t have any. And she has an untamed tongue. Sylv shows them off during an exchange where a small ding in the artifact she stole reduces her wage. But that seems to be why some guild members like Maisey love her. No classless means Sylv is not a member of any particular guild.

The reason this causes a probem connects to the cause of her brother’s condition. Somehow the day Shadow’s mind was taken Sylv became a woman of skills. Not a particular set, but all of them. Which violates the rule of one skill one guild. Hamberlin along with Hannah Hall gives readers a complex creature in Sylv, overqualified and unwilling to compromise. A sequence shows Sylv interacting with members of each prospective guild, with Van Dyke accentuating each artisan group’s single discipline. As she speaks with them one by one you can almost imagine these single panels as auditions or interviews. A simple flash of light magic for the clerics is just one instance where a simple element compliments – even completes – each image.

Speaking of image, in each instance it’s hard to overlook Sylv. The redhead looks much better once she cleans up from her time in the tunnels. Despite the savagery of the world she lives in, Sylv is a fair maiden. Probably the reason why the brothel guild is willing to accept her. Not yet, according to Sylv.

The Last Barbarian ends with Sylv, who has to bring Shadow along, taking a chance to change their circumstances. Maybe Maisley’s warning is unnecessary; to keep her under the guild’s control. Or has the young woman with multiple skills taken on too much even for her. Stopping progress or choosing to push past it. Sylv is going to show you who’s the real savage.