Review: Assassin’s Creed V1: Trial by Fire
Titan Comics managed to kick ass with their new Assassin’s Creed #1, which is an all-new ongoing comic featuring brand-new characters, based on the hit videogame series.
The new ongoing comic series was written by the best-selling team of indy-instant classic Kill Shakespeare, Anthony Del Col and Conor McCreery, and heralds the story of a new female member of the Brotherhood or as Titan Comics says it:
“Charlotte de la Cruz is overeducated and underemployed, wasting her time in a deadend job in San Diego, spending her free time chasing down conspiracy theories.
When a real-life conspiracy crashes into her life, she is pulled into the orbit of the Assassins, a mysterious organization with roots stretching back thousands of years, and users of stolen Animus technology, which allows them to experience the memories of their ancestors as if they were there!
Charlotte has a secret in her blood… the genetic memory of an ancestor who was in Salem at the time of the infamous witch trails: Tom Stoddard, an Assassin who witnessed a dark act with repercussions for the present day!
As Charlotte is trained in the Assassins’ art, and as she investigates the life of her ancestor… the forces of the Templars begin to move against her.
Will Charlotte learn the skills she needs to survive, and the truth she needs to prove her worth – before the Templars silence her forever?!”
The gist given here is much more actually then what is happening in the first issue, but that is just how it works sometimes and I am frankly glad the marketing folks told it like this, since as a total and utter Creed-noob I was in need of a regurgitation of sorts. And to be even more honest, this whole first issue can be read without even having seen a commercial, a game, a book or any other news about the Assassin’s Creed in fact.
The writers made sure that the time-traveling (through memories imprinted in ones DNA, inherited from ancestors) aspect is explained most eloquently that even a noob as myself could make heads and tails of it, which is saying much!
The reader immediately takes Charlotte into their heart as the high-paced action and/or high-strung dialogue starts on the first pages and continues for the full length of the comic, with artist Neil Edwards making it even more appealing with his splendid artwork (of course aided by a good colorist to make this a real team effort). Without the dialogue the comic might suffer, so I am really glad the writers did not cut on balloons to be filled.
The great thing about this collection -aside it being a nice set of comics to be read in one go- is the add-ons to be frank. The Salem Witch Trials is part of the story that takes Charlotte into her ancestor’s past and the add-on is a retelling of how those insane Salem times of past could even start, as well as who they have been affecting the Salem residents, even well after the Trials were over and done with. From a historical perspective this was a nice treat.
To have Charlotte smack in the middle of it all, with various characters having hidden agenda’s, roles and parts to play, the writers made sure this all still makes perfect sense. Add to this just top notch artwork to make sure the total story remains visually just as strong and this really is a keeper.
Bottom line? Whether you love the game, cannot wait for the movie or are just a noob who wants to read a really good and intense comic, you better run into the comic book store to get this series!
ASSASSIN’S CREED V1: Trial By Fire
Writers: Anthony Del Col & Conor McCreery
Artist: Neil Edwards – Colorist: Ivan Nunes
Publisher: Titan Comics
Ongoing – FC – $14.99
In Shops: May 25, 2016