Review – We Only Find Them When They’re Dead #1
Review – We Only Find Them When They’re Dead #1
Publisher – Boom! Studios
Writer – Al Ewing
Artwork – Simone Di Meo
Color assists – Mariasara Miotti
Letters – AndWorld Design
Introduction
Interesting is the first word that comes to mind when reading We Only Find Them When They’re Dead #1. In fact, for his first creator owned series, author Al Ewing presents an interesting idea; What if the gods were real, but they were…well you get the idea from the title. The premise was definitely enough to attract my attention and this first volume may be one of the most interesting comics I have read this year.
Story and writing
Like many sci-fi epics, this story takes place in the future. Humanity has colonized space but resources are depleting and the human race is close to dying out. Of course, the gods are here to save us, but not through divine action. Instead, their large celestial bodies are left drifting through the cosmos so that humanity can harvest their bodies just to stay alive. I’ll admit, it’s a unique take on the overdone ‘gods and humanity’ trope.
At the heart of this story is the crew of the autopsy ship, Vihaan II. Led by captain Georges Malik, who is obsessed with being the first human being to set eyes on a living god, even if it means putting his crew in danger. Malik is willing to travel to the farthest reaches of space to achieve his dream, all while a rogue agent with a personal vendetta hunts him down.
It’s an interesting premise and their is a lot to juggle. Nevertheless, Al Ewing is in his element with a story as grand as this. Ewing, a star writer for Marvel, brings his distinct style to create a melancholic and deeply beautiful tale that tackles larger themes such as god, religion and death. Even with such large themes, Ewing manages to deftly interweave a narrative that also focuses on world-building to make a grand Jack Kirby-esque space opera that pushes the boundaries of its own genre.
For such a bold story, this first volume is so close to being perfect. While it rightfully focuses on world-building and introducing us to the characters, it unfortunately leaves little room for character depth. By the end of the volume, you know very little about these characters, with the exception of Malik. Granted, the characters are the least interesting part of this story, but I would have liked to have understood the crews motives more.
Art
With a story as grand and cosmic as this one, the art work really needs to match. Luckily, Simone Di Meo absolutely delivers. In fact, it’s not wrong to say that his illustrations are the biggest stand out of this first volume. With color assists from Mariasara Miotti, the vibrant art work pops off the page and will easily grab your attention. Di Meo creates immaculate designs for the details of the ships and gives some awe-inspiring illustrations of deceased celestial bodies floating among the stars. I also adore the use of color in this story. Di Meo and Miotti work with striking neons and pastels that really match the cosmic tone of the series. Honestly, from start to finish, the look of this book is stunning and polished.
Final thoughts
Overall, We Only Find Them When They’re Dead #1 is a fantastic read. The writing, art, and colors are a powerhouse that brings to life this grand cosmic story. It’s a top notch story that showcases the talent of Al Ewing. Now if future installments focus on the characters as much as the premise, then WOFTWTD might shape up to be one of the best modern sci-fi comics.
If you enjoyed our review of We Only Find Them When They’re Dead #1 then leave us a comment below.
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