Quest #1 // Review
Princess Anya and Prince Devyan are getting married before Chengka. There seems to be genuine love between them. The sun shines on their marriage. Many have come to witness the happy occasion. There are a few demons who arrive a bit late...right in the middle of the ceremony, in fact. A joyous occasion turns tragic as a couple of warriors start down a dangerous path in Quest #1. Writer/artist Jonathan Luna and co-writer Crystal Wood begin a promising new adventure set in a fictitious Southeast Asian-inspired world. The traditional fantasy adventure format gets a stylish twist in the opening of a new series.
Devyan was taken by the demons that rest beyond the eastern border of Yachai. They need to formulate a plan to get him back, but the longer they wait, the more dangerous it is likely to be for the prince. To complicate matters, the demons have left through a portal the same way they arrived. There's no telling how far away they went. It's not going to be easy to locate the prince. The demon lands remain shrouded in mystery. Anyone looking to go in search of Devyan will almost certainly be going in completely blind.
Luna and Wood spend some time establishing the interpersonal dramas, the family dramas, and the politics of the situation. It's a prudent and thoughtful move on their part. However, the drama does not feel drawn to the page in a very compelling way. Anya comes across as a powerful character. She has a great deal of strength, which serves as an excellent engine for the plot. However, there isn't enough about life in this particular fantasy world that is being presented beyond the relatively narrow confines of a single wedding. It's hard to feel much connection for the characters without having a greater appreciation for the fantasy world that they're coming from.
Luna's colors add a thick layer of depth and atmosphere to the world. However, so much of the actual world that he is rendering in the art feels stiff and rigid. The physical action of violence that is visited upon the wedding lacks the animalistic fluidity that would give the vicious attack some level of horrifying menace. There is some weight to the grandma that is given a firm aesthetic anchor in the coloring. Anya is spattered in blood and ready to leap into action for much of the issue. The heaviness of the moment is amplified by the indelible presence of that blood.
Luna and Wood might be moving the story along in a way that feels a little awkward at the outset. However, it feels like things could really ramp up and become more intriguing. Once the story moves out beyond the palace. The nobility of the princess will be contrasted against the rest of the world in which she's adventuring. That's going to add a great deal of momentum to things. The Southeast Asian atmosphere should be a pleasant and fascinating contrast against all of the European-based fantasy adventure stories that dominate the comics rack.
