Advanced Review: The Realm #1

The Realm #1 Review

Publisher: Image
Writer: Seth M. Peck
Artists: Jeremy Haun & Nick Filardi
Letterer: Thomas Mauer

Review by Anelise Farris 

The Realm #1 brings together so many of my favorite things: myth, horror, and plain old post-apocalyptic fun. Like with the typical post-apocalyptic narrative, here we see individuals banding together to survive.

However, what is an unexpected, though welcome surprise, is that this story involves a whole bunch of fantasy creatures. We see orc-like creatures, ritualistic sacrifices, and a whole lot of other creepy activity going on. Our leader through this dark, violent world is Will Nolan: a guide who is not afraid to wield a weapon when necessary.

This first issue does a great job of introducing Nolan and establishing his important role within this bleak world. The focus on Nolan and just a few other characters is smart as it prevents the comic from feeling overwhelming. Post-apocalyptic narratives are often daunting because they seem so vast, but we don’t get that here. The team is confident in their characters, and the pace of the comic flows smoothly. Overall, the dialogue is believable, and the team does a nice job of bringing us a fully-realized world.

One of my biggest complaints when a comic or any sort of visual medium attempts myth/high fantasy is that it often comes across as cheesy. It is difficult to achieve a gravity and depth, and yet The Realm #1 manages to do just that. The layout definitely contributes to this, as there are a ton of fantastic wordless panels that really focus on the characters’ facial expressions. Amidst all of the blood and shadows, it is worth stating that this is a gorgeous comic with a particularly inviting landscape. Basically, this is a gritty, D&D-esque world with a whole lot of depth and style.

Verdict
Buy it! If you like your fantasy with strong characters and well-drawn, emotive art, then The Realm #1 is a must.