The Heathens #1

The Heathens #1

Aftershock Comics 2021

Written by Cullen Bunn & Heath Amodio

Illustrated by Sami Kivelӓ

Coloured by Jason Wordie

Lettered by Simon Bowland

When evil men and women escape from the depths of the eternal abyss, the Pirate Queen Lady Shih is sent to retrieve them. But when one of history’s most notorious killers breaks free, even she needs help. Enter the Heathens: Shih, Lucky Luciano, Bumpy Johnson, Sofia the Golden Hand, and Billy the Kid. From Hell they came to mete out a justice as dark as their own tormented souls.

Alright I get it, take some of history’s worst to bring in those who were even worse and keep the balance in the universe. Or at least something along those lines. It is still way too early to tell what is really going on here but suffice it to say that at this point we learn enough that coming back isn’t an option, it is a guarantee kind of thing. Right now this is the appetizer course and it’s getting me hungry for the main event but is the main event the one or are there more after this? So many unanswered questions and all I want to know is how and why? Who is in charge of this mysterious ragtag team and how do they have the authority to pull folks out of whatever afterlife they’re in to do their work?

I’m super intrigued by the way that this is being told. The story & plot development that we see through how the sequence of events unfold as well as how the reader learns information is presented exceedingly well. The character development that we see through the dialogue, the character interaction as well as how they act and react to the situations and circumstances which they encounter does magnificent job in establishing the personalities of these characters. The pacing is excellent and as it takes us through the pages revealing the story, introducing the characters and the world they live in and it just makes me want to see more.

I’m impressed with the way that this is being structured and how the layers within the story emerge, grow and evolve. The way we see the layers open up avenues to be explored are some of the more interesting ways we are drawn into the story. Plus they add this amazing depth, dimension and complexity to what we see. How everything works together to create the story’s ebb & flow as well as how it moves the story forward is immaculately achieved.

The linework is incredible and how we see the varying weights and techniques being utilised to create the detail within the work throughout the issue is spectacular. The way that backgrounds are being utilised to enhance and expand the moments as well as how they work within the composition of the panels to bring out the depth perception, sense of scale and the overall sense of size and scope to the story is marvellous to see. The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show a remarkably talented eye for storytelling. The various hues and tones within the colours being utilised to create the shading, highlights and shadow work shows an accomplished eye for how colour works.

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There is something special about the mix of characters we see within these pages and not knowing the rhyme or reason for their choosing is something that really drives me crazy, but honestly in a good way because I really want to know more. It’s this riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma and it is these things that drive towards obsession in trying to uncover what it is. Thanks to this exceptional writing and crazy interesting characterisation along with these expressive and dynamic interiors we are treated to a book that defies expectations.