Oni’s Nacelleverse rolls on with the return of the planet Symbion and the Sectaurs in Sectaurs #1 (written by Dennis Culver with art by Ramon Bachs and colors by Manoli Martinez).
Of all the Nacelleverse properties, I feel the Sectaurs are the most aesthetically perfect, with their hybrid human/insect designs and their vibrant world of Symbion, teeming with all manner of alien bugs and massive insectoid steeds zipping through the air. Do you know less than nothing about the Sectaurs and their world? No worries, the issue begins with a Star Wars-style informational page giving a brief overview of Symbion, the Sectaurs and the current state of their world. Also in the back of the issue is a glossary of frequently used terms. Yes, the Sectaurs and their world have the potential to be as deep and layered as Dune or Tolkien’s Middle Earth books, and I’m all for that!
The book has a timeless plot device, with two conflicting factions on Symbion, The Shining Realm and The Dark Domain (Guess which one is the evil one!) having brokered a peace treaty that’s been in effect for years. But when the ruler of the Shining Realm slips into a coma, The Dark Domain’s Queen Devora takes the opportunity to seize power from her husband and continue the war.
Meanwhile, The Shining Realm’s young Prince Dargon, suddenly having to take over the kingdom in his father’s absence, fumbles around with his lessons and duties, looking more like Barney Fife than Luke Skywalker as he tries to bond with his insectoid steed and claim his position as a leader. Prince Dargon’s struggles with acclimating to his new role not only makes him a more sympathetic character we can cheer for, but it also allows us to discover more about Symbion and the Sectaurs universe through their (multiple insect) eyes. As Prince Dargon learns, so do we.
Most interesting are the political machinations occurring in the background on both sides, adding a new layer to the series, with a brutal scene where Queen Devora makes a power play against her husband in the Dark Domain. Meanwhile, in the Shining Realm, Prince Dargon’s uncle seems envious of his nephew and speculates what would happen if Dargon were to fail at his duties or an “accident” would happen to him. It all feels very Game of Thrones and Shakespearean.
Artists Ramon Bachs and Manoli Martinez make the book feel like watching an animated show. The artwork is crisp and though lacking in background detail at times, all the characters come to life and the colors are spectacular! There’s an infinite variety of creatures and characters in the book and the art showcases this diversity.
I found Queen Devora the most interesting character in the book. Yep, like Alvy Singer in “Annie Hall”, I love those evil queens cloaked in darkness and Devora promises to be a great adversary for the Sectaurs and their Shining Realm. She’s ruthless and a master strategist and wastes no time causing havoc in the thrilling last few pages of the issue.
This premiere issue doesn’t tie in with the other Nacelleverse books, so if you’re looking for some great classic space opera to read without any baggage, pick this book up; it’s a fun read from beginning to end!
