Comic Review: Valen The Outcast – Issue 1

Issue: Valen The Outcast #1
Writer: Michael Alan Nelson
Artist: Matteo Scalera
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
Release Date: Dec. 2011
Pages: 32
Price: $1.00

“The King is dead — long live the DEAD KING! King Valen Brand is a fair, just king as well as a great and mighty warrior. Killed by a Necromancer in battle and resurrected as one of the walking dead. Now he’s considered an abomination in his own realm,an outcast with only one purpose: to restore his lost soul! “

Dying Breath: 4.0 out of 5
“Long live the Dead King” is right people! Now most know that I am not a fan of the Fantasy genre of comics, but every now and then a book will come along and make me second guess myself. This is one of them. The art in this issue is GORE-Geous, and when you get a few decapitations how can it not be? The line work is great, but in some of the action scenes I did tend to take 2-3 looks to figure out exactly what was happening. All of that is over shadowed though by a final panel that is to die for (pun intended)! The cover choices on this one shine as well, and the one posted with this review is my favorite. The story is perfect for a first issue. You are given enough back story to be ready to move forward. however I personally didn’t care for how that back story was broken up over the course of the issue, but that is me being nit-picky. The pacing and action I expect to find in a horror fantasy book is there, with enough intrigue to keep me on board. Again I go back to that final panel, because it was a jaw dropper. While fantasy is not always my game, I really did enjoy this first issue. For only $1 you might think you are actually stealing this one from BOOM! because it’s easily worth more.

Artwork: 4.0 out of 5 • Story: 4.0 out of 5

If you would like to buy or know more about Valen The Outcast #1 you can find it at www.boom-studios.com

Valen The Outcast – Issue 1