Reviewer: Kevin S. Mahoney
Story Title: N/A
Written by: Rick Remender (Script) & Kieron Dwyer (Layouts)
Penciled by: Salgood Sam
Inked by: Salgood Sam
Colored by: Salgood Sam
Lettered by: Ed Dukeshire
Editor: N/A
Publisher: Image Comics
There’s a growing opportunity in the crowded comics marketplace; it’s cross-genre comics. Fans of certain types of characters or stories are slowing coming around to seeing their favorite archetypes mashed into other popular styles and enjoying the somewhat offbeat results. For example, combining superheroes with the trappings of a popular television program like NYPD Blue begets a title like Powers. Certain comics mainstays like the secret identity and the labyrinthine villainous plot bump against the all-too-human flawed police and the similarly routine procedures found in the above mentioned recently departed though much loved hourly drama. The interaction of both mythologies makes the result novel to fans of either contributing style. These stories ask a bit more patience and imagination from the readers, but have the bad habit of becoming addictive once the series gains some steam.
Sea of Red is a new cross-genre series with potential. In the first issue, readers witness a drama at sea that segues into an occult nightmare complete with an ebony final twist of the plot. Fans of oceanic adventures are certainly familiar with its standard riffs: wrecks at sea, rescued sailors, colorful multinational characters, and pirates are all present in this primary effort. Readers of morbid fantasy are equally well versed in the trappings of its ilk: fever dreams, curses, mythical horrors, excessive carnage, condemned and yet seemingly normal people all populate the first voyage of this title. The interplay of these two well-defined formats makes the book a rare and compelling treat, reminiscent of only one prior (though incredibly well-known) work: the pulp comic within a comic found in Watchmen. If the similarities from that story to this one can be overlooked, this tale’s burly narrative, resonant though slightly obtuse dialogue, and well-choreographed and shockingly violent scenes give this comic the oomph a debut issue deserves.
The art in this first effort succeeds in creating the desired mood. The panic and disorientation felt by the story’s protagonist comes through to the reader very strongly. Unfortunately, the art also gets in the way of telling the story more than occasionally. The essentially tri-color palette (black, white, red) gives the book a unique look, but certain essential details of the setting, particularly the time of day are lost in the bargain. This makes one of the big reveals in the story feel like a cheat since there is no observable artistic difference in the shadows and light of mid-day and a full moon night.
Art qualms aside, this installment is chock-a-block full of thrills, suspense, and involving characters. The morbid cliffhanger that both begins and concludes the initial chapter is certainly enough to pique reader interest in the subsequent issues. The end content (consisting of a statement from the writer, some sketchbook material from the art team, and a next issue teaser) gives the impression that the people behind Blackthroat’s ship intend to go for nothing but the jugular in the coming months. The ship and crew of this title might be cursed, but Sea of Red may just turn out to be a blessing in disguise for readers everywhere.
