What would it take to create a perfect world? That’s the question asked in the debut issue of The Sacrificers from Rick Remender, Max Fimura, Dave McCaig and Rus Wooton. In a world far different from ours, there is no crime. No war. No disease. For all intents and purposes, it’s a paradise. But there’s a dark secret to this utopia: each family is required to give up one of its children in order to maintain said paradise.
It’s these kinds of story hooks that have made Remender such a compelling writer: through his creator-owned work under his Giant Generator banner at Image as well as his Marvel work, he’s been able to use these big concepts in order to deliver some top-notch character work. Tokyo Ghost was about co-dependency and the dangers of social media, Black Science used the multiverse concept to explore questions of identity, and Seven To Eternity – which could more or less be this book’s spiritual successor – was about keeping your principles in a world that seemed to abandon them.
Throughout The Sacrificers #1, Remender wants to explore the cracks in this so-called “perfect world”. A family who has been chosen for the sacrifice seems to be happy, but the boy being sacrificed is treated as little more than an outcast by his family. The ruler of this world seems content, but his daughter? Not so much. In the afterword, Remender lists David Lynch as his major inspiration for writing; like Lynch, he’s content to slowly unfurl the inner workings of this world, which only whets an appetite for the next issue.
In keeping with previous Giant Generator books, Remender is paired with a top-notch artist. Fimura brings this world to life, populating it with all manner of fantastic creatures. That family I mentioned previously? They’re a race of humanoid birds. The leader? He’s a living, breathing mass of lava. Even the distinction between royalty and common folk is vast; the former lives in an ornate castle that burns with the fire of the sun – literally – while the bird family lives in a simple cottage. Fimura has crafted a world that could rival Game of Thrones or The Lord of the Rings.
It helps that he has McCaig and Wooton to flesh out his artwork. McCaig is perhaps the best colorist in the buisness; his work is rich, vivid, and adds life to Fimura’s artwork. Night is depicted in cool blue. The day, in glowing yellow. Even the ruler of this world makes for an impressive sight, as his entire body is wrapped in reddish-orange flames while his word balloons feel like bursts of flame given life.
The Sacrificers #1 delivers a unique fantasy world as well as the kind of high-concept character work fans have come to expect from Rick Remender. Yes it might leave you with questions, but it’ll also have you patiently awaiting the next issue for answers.
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