Try, try again.
By Jeff Lake
When you have the word “eternal” in your title, chances are that your relationship with death is a unique one. That doesn’t make it easy, however, and that’s something Robert Venditti and Raúl Allén look to explore with their latest debut, Wrath of the Eternal Warrior #1. More introspective brooder than extroverted slash epic, Valiant’s latest look into the life and times of Gilad Anni-Padda has the potential to be its best one yet.
The opening to Wrath of the Eternal Warrior, as previewed widely across the pages of Valiant’s other titles, is a surprisingly misleading affair. At the onset the debut appears well in line with the series’ aggressive title, but it’s not long before it becomes clear that this is a very different type of story. Rather than focus on Gilad’s well documented prowess for bloodletting and strategy, writer Venditti instead opts to take a different perspective. For once, we see the sacrifice that comes with eternal life, not just in terms of Gilad’s own choices but also in how they affect those close to him. His duty to the Geomancers is revealed to come at a cost, and Venditti does a fantastic job in highlighting the personal conflict Gilad is forced to shoulder.
That examination of self is easily the most interesting part to this first issue, as Venditti largely keeps the action at a minimum. It’s an interesting approach to such an axe first character, but it’s one that becomes more and more engaging as the pages flip by. Rather than spell things out through expository dialogue or an exhaustive recap, Venditti instead allows the story to unfold at the same clip Gilad experiences it. This leads to some uniquely structured pages, as at times a whole 8-10 panels will tick by with nary a word bubble. It’s not quite slow so much as it is deliberate, Venditti paying careful attention in both forming his world and Gilad’s standing within it. He also leaves just enough unknown to add some measure of deeper investment, his final pages succeeding in raising questions we want answered.
It also helps that this is a darn pretty book, as rendered by artists Allén and Patricia Martín. Much like Venditti’s script, the art has an understated quality to it, consistently strong but never overwhelming. Allén’s emotive pencils have an easy quality to them, each facial shift or soft gesture just as telling as the words within. Venditti shows a clear appreciation for Allén’s abilities, as many of the book’s more intimate moments are told purely through art alone. An entire sequence is dedicated to Gilad’s sensory response to his at once new and familiar surroundings, each page highlighting the various ways in which Gilad takes it all in. Allén also proves himself adept at the book’s larger moments, his grinning beasts and sprawling scenery feeling appropriately sinister. Martín heightens that sense of mood with her fantastic tones, her color palette as subtle as it is immersive. Her transitions are almost imperceptible, but the slow blend from warm, earthy hues to more otherworldly reds and teals helps to generate much of the issue’s building tension. Gilad has never looked better.
Wrath of the Eternal Warrior isn’t the book most likely expected to be. In fact, it’s better. Venditti, Allén and Martín headline an excellent creative team, resulting in the rare look back that truly offers something new. It’s smart, gorgeous, and surprisingly deep, offering a welcome look at a character worth far more than the sum of his scars.
Wrath of the Eternal Warrior offers plenty of surprises, the key being the book’s unique focus. It’s a slower debut, but one that ably crafts investment through its strong character play and gorgeous art. There will come a time where Gilad needs to pick up his ax, but for now we’re content to follow him as he wanders through the dark.
