Review - Chaos #1


"The blood...the blood...the blood!"

There's always been an unspoken battle of good versus evil. There's an impending invasion of some form of enemy that is damnation incarnate and typically one (or a few) heroes have to stand up to them to save the world. Rarely are those scenarios much fun for anyone involved, but a book like Chaos #1 from Dynamite Entertainment proves that some people can enjoy their work. The issue is written by Tim Seeley, illustrated by Mirk Andolfo, colored by Walter Baiamonte and lettered by Marshall Dillon.

Chaos #1 picks up with the Chosen (kids from the Omen) as they continue to find ways to stop Purgatori. She's not keen to rest on her laurels, as they happen to come across Vex while raiding one of Purgatori's shipments. Meanwhile, Evil Ernie is on his own mission, making his way towards Megadeath on behalf of Mistress Hel. All the main players are presented and all have their own agendas, none of which are likely to be very peaceful when it comes to one another.

The characters in Chaos #1 may be familiar to some, but for the most part they're largely unfamiliar. Thankfully, Seeley does a great job introducing all the players and getting the reader up to speed. Part of the problem in that is that there are a ton of characters, which can be a little overwhelming to the reader. Seeley does an admirable job handling all the moving parts of the story, ensuring that no one gets short shrift when it comes to exposition. There's some pretty devilish themes in the book as well; something that makes sense for the characters involved and makes the setting feel sufficiently evil.

Andolfo's illustrations are efficient and capture the essence of the character and universe. Many of the female characters in the Chaos universe are illustrated quite voluptuously, but it makes some sense in a way considering the content of the book. Other than that, the characters are cleanly defined and exhibit an adept style that blends hell and Earth. There is a heavy reliance on shadows and cross-hatching that detracts from the book's look. All things considered the book feels a little tame in some regards when it comes to the chaos of evil and death.

Chaos #1 is an interesting trip down memory lane in a way. It reintroduces the reader to characters familiar years ago, while simultaneously offering them to new readers as well. Seeley is definitely the man for the job here, as his rather unique ability to lighten seemingly hellish concepts is always welcome. Andolfo's illustrations are sufficient for the characters and setting involved, despite some facets that don't quite fit the tone of the book at times. Chaos #1 is worth checking out if you're a fan of the original characters or just want something new to check out, especially if you're a fan of stories that trade in evil taking over the world.

Chaos #1 is in stores now with interiors below.








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