Review: Jirni #1
When Aspen started to announce their “10 for 10” event, starting 10 new series in 2013, you could hear fans screaming, because this meant lots of new and amazing Aspen series. Or you could hear non-Aspen fans just sigh and turn around and buy their regular Marvel or DC series. To each their own, right? Right!
In this case, just witnessing the birth of a new high-end fantasy series, with art by Italian sensation Paolo Pantalena and written by experienced Aspen (and much more) scribe J.T. Krul, is something to truly revel about. Krul tells the tale of Ara, of the land of Janna, who is on a quest to look for her mother Queen Luna, who is stolen from Ara and Janna by a sorcerer.
In this first introductory issue we meet the shape-shifting Ara, who rescues Nylese from a horde of men-eating barbarians, but is too late to stop them from fleshing and killing Nylese’s father. This rather brutal, gore and violent beginning of the series really sets the tone: Jirni is not suited for children.
The comic also introduces the sorcerer and his D’jin enforcer and it truly shows craftsmanship to set up an entire world, with magic and various kingdoms, and characters you immediately care about.
This first issue takes you by the hand and by the throat.
CREDITS:
- Words: J.T. Krul
- Art: Paolo Pantalena
- Colors: Brett Smith
- Covers: Paolo Pantalena
- Publisher: Aspen Comics
- Price: $1.00
- Release Date: April 17, 2013