Whether drawn from history or imagined in dystopian science fiction, stories rarely speak only of the past or the future—they speak to the present. Tales of history reveal who we were, while sci-fi warns of where we might be headed, both serving as cautionary mirrors. That idea lies at the heart of Outer Lands, the latest from Comixology Originals, which blends past and future in a strikingly original way.
Set in the Ancient Greek Island of Titania, the young prince Heron lives peacefully with her sister Isadora and their king of a father. However, when said king is murdered in his sleep, Heron is exiled to a prison isle to keep him from assuming the throne. With plans to return to his home and claim back what is rightfully is, Heron unintentionally discovers a massive global conspiracy where the rest of the world may not be as ancient as Titania.
The stunning front cover from legendary artist Jock features a Greek helmet and an AK-47 assault rifle, which gives you the book’s premise, but it takes a while before we see how different the titular Outer Lands are. Apart from a minor reveal in the first chapter where one of the main characters, Selene, tries to sell a piece of Atlantean technology that is actually a hub cap, writer Matthew Arnold sticks very close to the ancient Greek setting where revenge and politics are a major element for the central siblings.
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Once we see what the Outer Lands are, which is basically a post-apocalyptic New York, you get a better understanding of the world-building, along with four pages that explain it all. It is here that touches upon our current fears regarding weapons of mass destruction and technology, causing many to decry modernity in favor of a simple life. The irony is that in recreating ancient times, history may end up repeating itself.
As well defined as the characters are, Arnold’s story feels constrained in a graphic novel format. Even with a total of 121 pages, the writing never goes that extra mile in delving deeper into the characters or the world, which could have benefitted from more pages or reworking the story to be an ongoing series. The final splash page does suggest more to come, which is an exciting prospect.
While Jock’s art reigns supreme with just one cover, the art by Davide Gianfelice is a thing of beauty throughout this book. Along with Luca Salce’s coloring that just pops in how it contrasts the bright primary colors with the pitch black, Gianfelice’s highly detailed work showcases what a shining paradise Titania is before it starts to fall apart, as well as the grittiness of the Outer Lands. And when the two worlds start to collide in the form of blades versus bullets, you get stunning pages of explosive violence.
Although there is so much more that the creators could have achieved through its characters and world building, Outer Lands does enough with its strong premise that makes it an enjoyable read.
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