Review: Shahrazad #1
When first Big Dog Ink was bedazzling me with amazing covers, babelicious artwork and stories about heaven and hell and sexy angels, they got to me. To my guts. And throughout the years they are bench-pressing more and more quality titles, with Shahrazad being their new adventure. A while ago C4S was running some lil contest on this and I was certainly overjoyed with all the inside scoops I was getting, but now I am so very pleased to see a new issue coming out for the wide public. And not only for a confession by fans, but more!!
Because now finally Marvel Zombies and DC Acolytes can come out of the woodwork, ditch their current collections and get on the next big thing!
Shahrazad tells the story about how Shahrazad came about all these amazing stories from 1.001 Arabian Nights and that some are even told from her own experience, during her long (immortal?) life.
As much is yet unknown to her origin, writers Kim Hutchison and Kari Castor really make a great start with first the Prologue #0 and now this #1; a start which will most likely be completed during the first arc; a start which will be sung to by fans and critiques, by artists and international publishers!
Enough yammering, though! The story today is that of Shahrazad, being on this huge aircraft carrier design kind-off ship with a tidal wave approaching and mythological kraken-creatures as well as whaling sirens harassing the crew and carrier. Things will obviously only go downhill from here on out, but the writers establish Shahrazad as a real survivor, a hero of the best kind and a beauty to boot. We see Shahrazad as she finds her way on a deserted island with the survivors of the accident and….
I am so incredibly eager to spoil the loot on this story, but let me digress on purpose and tell you about the artwork!
Mike Krome is making each page count in that almost every page is as detailed as a cover or pinup should be, with radiant colors and striking details. From the tech of the carrier, to the steampunk aspects to the mythological creatures, to the jungle of the island to the garments of Shahrazad. Check out the exclusive preview.
Is there nothing even resembling real criticism to this issue, except that there is a cliffhanger and just not enough pages?
Well, there are some glitches in sequential storytelling and I noticed a little dialogue error and perhaps the writers could have provided more narrative to even showcase more depth to the story, adding to the showcased flashbacks. But really, why go into any kind of negativity when you would give this fun read an A+ for the art, A+ for the story, A+ for making the Big 2 be ashamed of not doing better stuff like this, an A+ for staying independent and striving to become one of the publishers to watch in years to come…
Credits
- Words: Kim Hutchison, Kari Castor
- Art: Mike Krome
- Publisher: BDI
- Price: 3.50 $
- Release Date: Nov 27, 2013