A DEBT TO THE CEASELESS REAPER #1, by Ryan George on Kickstarter, follows an infamous bounty hunter when his latest catch is disputed by the deceased’s brother.
The Details
- Written by: Ryan George
- Art by: Bobby Brice
- Colors by: Marta Gasperoni
- Letters by: Marco Della Verde
- Cover art by: Bobby Brice
- Comic Rating: Mature
- Cover price: $20.00
- Release date: February 2024 (estimated)
Is A DEBT TO THE CEASELESS REAPER #1 Good?
A DEBT TO THE CEASELESS REAPER #1 throws us right into the heart of the Wild West in the 1800s. Through a flashback, we learn that a notorious criminal has been gunned down by none other than the sheriff, who happens to be the criminal’s older brother. The twist? The sheriff has become a lawman, leaving his outlaw past behind.
Driven by a promise to his deceased mother, the sheriff is determined to bury his brother alongside her, a final act of unity for their fractured family. Enter the Ceaseless Reaper, a ruthless bounty hunter who rolls into town to claim the body of the younger brother, known as Ambush.
Despite their efforts, the townsfolk are powerless to stop the Ceaseless Reaper from taking Ambush’s body. The bounty hunter then returns the body to the town where the bounty was placed, only to buy it back himself. He takes the body deep into the woods, driven by a mysterious second promise connected to the deceased.
There’s also a hint of a deeper history between the bounty hunter and the deceased, a connection that even the sheriff isn’t aware of. This revelation at the end sheds new light on the entire situation, making the story much more captivating than it initially appeared.
This comic offers a fresh take on the classic Western genre. It has that Clint Eastwood-esque “lone stranger” vibe, but with a supernatural twist. The story explores themes of family bonds, redemption, and the secrets of the past.
What We Liked About A Debt to the Ceaseless Reaper #1:
This first issue nails the classic Western atmosphere. We get a strong sense of a lawless town and the characters who inhabit it – some good-hearted folks stuck in tough situations, others downright corrupt. The familiar tropes of the genre are present, but with an extra layer of intrigue thanks to the familial connection between the sheriff and the criminal, and the mysterious backstory between the bounty hunter and the deceased.
The story itself is engaging and well-paced. The flashbacks are used effectively to fill in the backstory, and the twists and turns keep you guessing. The dialogue is mostly solid, capturing the spirit of the era. There are a few moments where the dialogue feels a touch modern, and some bits of slang might feel out of place in the 1800s setting, but these are minor quibbles.
What We Didn’t Like About A Debt to the Ceaseless Reaper #1:
Honestly, there’s not much to dislike here from a scripting standpoint. The story is well-developed, the characters are interesting, and the plot unfolds smoothly.
The art is good, but not quite fantastic. The backgrounds and settings occasionally feel a bit too digitally manipulated, creating a slight disconnect with the character illustrations, which are done in a sharper, pen-and-ink style. The coloring is generally good, but there are a few places where the shading and blending could be smoother.
Art Quality
The artwork in “A Debt to the Ceaseless Reaper” #1 is good, but not quite top-notch. The character designs are strong, and the action sequences are well-executed. However, the backgrounds and settings sometimes feel a bit too digitally rendered, creating a disconnect with the more traditional pen-and-ink style of the characters. The coloring is generally good, but the shading and blending could be improved in a few spots.
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Final Thoughts
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A DEBT TO THE CEASELESS REAPER #1 blends classic Western tropes with a touch of the supernatural, resulting in a story that’s both familiar and intriguing. The characters are well-developed, the plot is engaging, and the artwork is good, with just a few minor shortcomings. If you’re a fan of Westerns with a twist, this is definitely a comic worth checking out.
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