A new high fantasy series is out this week that should prick up the ears of lovers of comics and new ideas called The Hunger and the Dusk. Crafted by G. Willow Wilson and Chris Wildgoose, the series promises “heartrending drama, pulse-quickening romance, awe-inspiring world-building, and bloody carnage to satisfy every manner of genre fan,” and simply put: It’s a great start at all of those things!
If you’re a fan of Lord of the Rings, there’s a lot in the first issue you’ll gravitate towards and get excited by. The Hunger and the Dusk #1 opens with orcs treading on human land, only to be found out by two boys plucking an apple from a tree. They rush to get help and raise the guard due to the surprising nature of orcs in an area they aren’t usually in. Through this sequence of events, we gather info about the orc people through their conversation and the human response on their end of preparing for battle. Wilson expertly lays out key details that help you understand that the world is dying, and what we know about orcs may not be entirely true.
Things get violent from there, and a new threat is introduced as shadowy figures. The story then cuts ahead in time, and we must gather how things have changed now that a new danger has entered the playing field. Like the opening scene, the creators force you to focus on character dynamics and details through dialogue. We gather new facts and how things are changing. At its core, this book is about rivals meeting in the middle due to threats unknown and impossibly powerful to them.
The way they look like shadows on the horizon is quite ominous.
Credit: IDW
One might see the metaphor of global warming and the looming danger tucked away in this tale. There’s certainly an interesting concept of seemingly rival factions having more in common than they might like to admit. Of course, the threat in this story isn’t elemental, but some creature with abilities unheard of. That creates a sense of mystery and danger heightened by what we know about humans fighting orcs. In general, there’s a good balance of fantasy tropes at work–like a bard reference at one point–while also doing new things with what we know.
Though it’s early, the character writing is fantastic, with some intriguing dynamics in play once the issue ends. Underneath these characters are real issues of possible racism, or at least a misunderstanding, as Wilson and Wildgoose throw orcs and humans together in a battle against an unknown and powerful third threat not because they want to but to survive.
Wildgoose’s art is fantastic, with a sure hand in character acting. Costumes are detailed and walk a line of fantasy tropes. Anything from the subtle design of the creatures folks ride to the shape of swords gives the world a slightly different feel than what we’ve seen before. When magic is used–and it’s used sparingly in this first chapter–the combination of color, light, and whispy visuals helps convey something truly fantastical is happening. Truly though, the sword part of “Sword and Sorcery” is more apparent with plenty of bloody swords and hacking going on. For instance, you feel the chunk of a blade in one scene entering a body.
Credit: IDW
Colors by Msassyk help set mood and tone, like a warm summery glow in the opening scene that conveys a peacefulness that adds to the striking attack. Speaking of atmosphere, a light fog lingers in one scene when orcs and humans meet, giving you a sense of mystery and crisp early morning air.
Letters by Simon Bowland are clean and easy to read, with good emphasis as needed. Sound effects are used expertly, but never in a way that takes over your attention.
I adored The Hunger and the Dusk #1. It’s the start of a fantasy series that understands the fantasy tropes we know and love so well, bending them slightly as needed and adding new elements. A series with charm and uniqueness, fans of the quest genre have a new fantasy series to explore.
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