Knights vs. Samurai #1 has been one of my most anticipated comics of the year, for a number of reasons. The title alone would be enough to sell me – I love Arthurian lore and Akira Kurosawa films – but it’s also the creative team that sold me. David Dastmalchian, probably best known for a host of acting roles including The Suicide Squad and Late Night With The Devil, was continuing to flesh out his comic writing career with this story, which he personally took to Todd McFarlane. At the past two San Diego Comic-Cons, I was literally in the room with Dastmalchian and McFarlane when this series was first announced, and seeing Dastmalchian’s face light up when he talked about it was a clue that this was going to be something special.
That hunch paid off, as Knights vs. Samurai #1 thrusts its audience into a world where dragons and sea monsters exist alongside the titular warriors. One of those warriors, Sir Charles Ward – known as the “Dragon Butcher” for his battles against the beasts that terrorize his kingdom – is tasked with traveling to a mysterious island to confront a army of “demons” that have beaten back his other knights. Charles takes a group of knights to the island, but he soon learns that these demons aren’t what he expected…
Those immediately expecting a swordfight will probably have to tune in for future issues, since this issue is mostly exploring the world that Dastmalchian and co-creator/artist Fede Mele have created. But it’s a world worth exploring; the seas are ripe with strange creatures, including a honest to goodness Kraken, and Charles is accompanied by a colorful cast of characters including the surly German Wulfheim and the giant Mundric. Even the knights and samurai stand out from each other; the former clad in shining silver armor while the latter don jet black gear. Mele’s artwork has a bit of a rough edge to it, but that edge, combined with Ulises Arreola’s muted palette, is what gives Knights vs. Samurai its life, especially those monster fights.
Image Comics
What gives this comic its soul is Dastmalchian’s scripting, especially when it comes to shaping Charles’ character. Charles is revealed to have survived a traumatic battle; though he was victorious, the price was steep – and this new mission may carry a steeper price still, as it could separate him from the love of his life, Emma. This attention to character work shows that Dastmalchian isn’t doing this as a vanity project, but as a creator who understands the comic medium and how to deliver the maximum emotional impact.
Knights vs. Samurai #1 was more than worth the wait. It’s set the stage for its titular conflict, it’s crafted a fantasy world I want to see more of, and it cements David Dastmalchian and Fede Mele as a dream creative team. If you love Ghost of Tsushima, Dungeons and Dragons, Dastmalchian’s previous work on Count Crawley, or good comics, this needs to be on your pull list.
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