AUGUST: PURGATORY UNDERGROUND #1, from Red 5 Comics on August 24th, 2022, finds Captain Abraham August searching for a purpose after the end of the war and with public opinion no longer on his side.
The Details
- Written by: Benjamin W. Morse
- Art by: Benjamin W. Morse
- Colors by: Benjamin W. Morse
- Letters by: Benjamin W. Morse
- Cover art by: Benjamin W. Morse
- Cover price: $3.95
- Release date: August 24, 2022
Is It Good?
AUGUST: PURGATORY UNDERGROUND #1 is a surprisingly effective war story set in a sci-fi universe. This is our first exposure to the exploits of Captain Abraham August, and we couldn’t be happier with the setup, world-building, and direction of the story.
The premise centers around a war hero struggling to find his place and purpose after the war. Public sentiment has turned against him after the deciding battle resulted in many casualties on mars, so he’s forced to take whatever assignments he can out of the public eye. Captain August accepts a confidential, solo mission that turns out to be a much bigger bite than he can chew.
The story evokes shades of gritty WWII war films where a small band of fighters work to liberate a town under enemy occupation. The dialog feels organic, the action sequences are grounded (even in a sci-fi setting), and Morse gins up a pleasing Dirty Dozen aesthetic by assembling a crew of miners who each have a unique set of skills. The entire issue is new but rings enjoyably familiar.
Morse’s art works perfectly with the writing (not a surprise) with a line style that combines elements from Neal Adams and John Byrne for a comic that sits comfortably in the Silver and Bronze Age of comics. The visuals look great.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
We begin with Captain Abraham August servicing his transport before taking off on his next mission. It’s the end-of-year holiday season, and he catches up with his old partner, Captain Waverly, before heading out. In their decisive battle against the rebels on mars, many lives were lost, and public opinion turned against August. Federation Command recognizes August’s value as a soldier but keeping him publicly visible has become a political hot potato. Rather than lose his commission, August has accepted covert solo missions.
Later, August arrives at his next mission point – a mining colony with reported rebel activity. When August’s ship exits hyperspace, he finds all communication cut off, and several, large rebel battleships are waiting for him.
We conclude the issue with a hasty maneuver, a chase, and an introduction.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
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AUGUST: PURGATORY UNDERGROUND #1 is a crisp, efficient start to a sci-fi-themed war story with great art, great dialog, expert pacing, and a pitch-perfect plot.
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