BLOODBORNE: THE BLEAK DOMINION #1, from Titan Comics on 9/13/23, begins a new era in Yharnam when Lucien’s thirst to become a Hunter and avenge his sister takes him down a dark path.
The Details
- Written by: Cullen Bunn
- Art by: Piotr Kowalski
- Colors by: Brad Simpson
- Letters by: JAME
- Cover art by: Werther Dell’Edera (cover A)
- Comic Rating: Teen+
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: September 13, 2023
Is BLOODBORNE: THE BLEAK DOMINION #1 Good?
Cullen Bunn returns to the world of Bloodborne with a tale of grief gone mad when Lucien, under the care of Gretchen and Abraham, begins a journey of madness in BLOODBORNE: THE BLEAK DOMINION #1. Bunn provides the same oppressive levels of fear and dread, but issue #1 injects the relatable feelings of grief and rage, with Lucien at the center.
Bunn’s story centers on two near timelines as Lucien pushes past his limits of safety and training to prove himself as a Hunter, forcing Gretchen and Abraham to continually chase after him in risky situations. When the spirit of his sister goads him on, Lucien soon finds himself in a position to make a dark bargain in pursuit of revenge.
BLOODBORNE: THE BLEAK DOMINION #1 is a noticeable twist on Bunn’s previous mini-series in the same Bloodborne world because the focus is on a human rather than a unique monster, and Lucien’s role as a recurring character immediately makes this issue a tighter read. That said, if you’re not familiar with the previous Bloodborne minis, you may feel a little left behind, so let your LCS know you’re interested in the back issues if you want to catch up.
What’s great about BLOODBORNE: THE BLEAK DOMINION #1? Bunn lays out a perfectly relatable and tragic tale in the form of Lucien’s revenge quest. You know why Lucien is so impatient to prove himself as a Hunter, you can see what drives him to take increasingly risky chances, and you understand why Lucien goes down a dark path.
What’s not so great about BLOODBORNE: THE BLEAK DOMINION #1? Bunn splits the comic into two timelines that are very close to each other. Given the sameness in the ages of the characters and the unremarkably grey settings, it’s tough to tell when the timelines shift or why they were split in the first place. In short, the sequence of events is sometimes confusing.
How’s the art? Not just good but better. Kowalski is the recurring artist on this succession of minis, and Kowalski’s style is getting tighter and stronger as each issue progresses. Kowalski’s figure work is more fully formed and realized, the line work is cleaner and more refined, and Kowalski’s action is more energetic. Overall, Kowalski is giving the reader more of all the right things.
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What’s BLOODBORNE: THE BLEAK DOMINION #1 About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
We begin with Gretchen and Abraham cutting down beasties in the middle of a ritual to summon a doorway to another Dominion. The siblings are looking for Lucien, whose gone off to hunt on his own again when he’s not ready. Gretchen concludes Lucien was sent to the other Dominion, so they complete the ritual to follow him.
In a juxtaposition of different timelines, we see Lucien hunting a werewolf, with poor results, while Gretchen and Abrhama fight off zombies and other creatures in the catacombs where they find themselves. In the first timeline, Gretchen saves Lucien from the werewolf. Now, Lucien follows the “ghost” of his dead sister to a place where his drive to become an elite Hunter could be realized.
We conclude the issue with impatience, words that sound like echoes, and a requested price.
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Final Thoughts
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BLOODBORNE: THE BLEAK DOMINION #1 returns to Yharnam to find Lucien’s thirst for revenge, leading him down a dark path. Bunn’s scripting is tighter, sharper, and more focused, and Kowalski’s art keeps getting better.
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