In BOOK OF LEGEND: ANTHOLOGY #1, available soon from Rainy Road Comics, vampires, aliens, robots, vigilantes, and Santa Claus (?!?) all make an appearance in 9 rapid-fire short stories.
[EDITOR’S NOTE: Since the review was published, we’ve received information the delivery schedule is currently being re-worked. The review has been updated to reflect this new information]
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The Details
- Written By: Michael T. Gonzalez
- Art By: Olan Orig, Ace Wheelie, Fabricio Bohrer, Emilio Utrera, Mac Radwanski, John-Paul Howard, Przemyslaw Dedelis, Lucas Meyer
- Cover Art By: Erwin J. Arroza
- Cover Price: $5 (digital copy via Kickstarter)
- Release Date: TBD
Was It Good?
I was thoroughly impressed with how much entertainment was packed into such a small space.
BOOK OF LEGEND: ANTHOLOGY #1 is an anthology containing nine separate stories, but the entire book is only56 pages, counting cover, credits, and notes from the writer. “Efficient” isn’t a strong enough word to describe how effective each story really is.
To be blunt, this is one of the best short-story anthologies we’ve read in a very long time. It’s one of the best because every page, every panel counts. There’s no fluff, meandering, or dreaded “decompressed storytelling.” The stories get right to the point with a setup, a journey, and the hardest-hitting ending possible. Sometimes the stories are thought-provoking. Sometimes the endings made me laugh with the surprise twist. But every story does what a story should — elicit an emotional reaction.
There are too many stories to cover in detail without making this review five pages long, so we’ll give a brief synopsis of each in the next section.
As for the art, you have a medium-sized army of artists attached to this anthology, so the quality varies. Thankfully, no one story has bad art, and what you get is varying degrees of “good” — from just okay to very good. Some artists turn in stronger work than others and of the bunch, Olan Orig takes the top spot for the impressive linework in The Man Who Was Six Feet Tall.
In short, this is one of the most impressively written anthologies we’ve read in a long while with good-to-great art on every page.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Buckle up! It’s not a short list, but every story has entertainment value, so there’s sure to be something for everyone.
Love Conquers All
In a world where superheroes are genetically engineered from birth, what happens when two babies don’t have what it takes? The title is both a cliche and a hint at the ending.
High Stakes Game
A high-tech killer overcomes monsters and mad scientists for a chance at the ultimate prize. It’s an ironic twist on games of chance.
The Blessed
A soldier on the battlefield laments his circumstances until a life-changing event forces him to rethink his mindset. This story is a clever play on words, showing how the same dialog takes on a completely different meaning with different art.
Sam & Sara’s Fairytale
When a tech mogul announces his company has discovered a way for everyone to live forever, an aging couple renews their lease on life. Of course, it’s not what you think, and the ending reveals a classic “monkey’s paw” tale… without the monkey’s paw.
Born From Above
An evil tyrant kills his superhero nemesis and takes over the world. This story explores the concept of legacy and what it means to be a hero.
Tearjerker
Witness the final confrontation between the vampire lord who rules the modern world and an unlikely vigilante with a daring plan.
Silent Night
Santa Claus and his elves run a drug-running operation in the city, and a street-level vigilante is about to put him on the naughty list. The writer’s notes explain this is an homage to a specific G.I. Joe issue and nods to Hit-Girl, but I got a distinctly Daredevil vibe from this story.
21 Guns
The writer explained there’s a personal, familial inspiration to this story. This is pure respect and recognition to those who serve (and die) on the battlefield.
The Man Who Was Six Feet Tall
As we mentioned above, this story has my vote for the best art of the bunch. The linework is phenomenal. Here an average joe is made an offer he can’t refuse, and he takes the opportunity to show that not every hero wears masks.
Final Thoughts
BOOK OF LEGEND: ANTHOLOGY #1 is an exceptionally written anthology, experimenting with different storytelling styles, executing each story with maximum efficiency and impact. The art varies but never falls below the level of good. This is a highly recommended indie pick.
Score: 9/10
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