BROKEN GARGOYLES: SIN AND VIRTUE #1 – An Honest Review

In BROKEN GARGOYLES: SIN AND VIRTUE #1, available from Source Point Press on June 30th, 2021, Manco encounters a potential ally in the wastelands while Prescott and the gang lend a hand to the widow of an old friend.

The Details

• Written By: Bob Salley, Christina Blanch
• Art By: Stan Yak, Mike Lilly, Ken Perry
• Colors By: Robert Nugent
• Letters By: Justin Birch
• Cover Art By: Francesco Francavilla
• Cover Price: $3.99
• Release Date: June 30, 2021

Was It Good?

It was raw and troubling. That’s a compliment to the creative team.

In this steampunk, alternate history following WWI, this second volume follows the ragtag soldiers of the 117th as they try to find survival and peace in a world that views them as expendable… damaged goods. While this is steampunk fantasy of sorts, the fantastical elements are mostly incidental to the human drama (and trauma) playing out. It’s a thoughtful and sometimes heart-breaking comic about the personal aftermath of war when broken soldiers come home.

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This is a second volume of the series, and while it’s extremely well-written, you may find yourself lost with the large ensemble of characters if you haven’t read the first volume. There’s a lot going on, and this first issue is not a good jumping-on point for new readers because you’re effectively picking up in the middle of scenes and conversations. Again, it’s well-written, but go back and read volume one first.

The art is excellent. Usually, a large group of artists in the credits spells bad news but it’s handled well here by making the shifts from one artist to the next feel organic in the story structure, usually with flashbacks.

The colors are very strong in this issue and are probably the artistic highlight of the issue.

You can take a peek at the internal art in our BROKEN GARGOYLES: SIN AND VIRTUE #1 preview.

This is a somber, albeit fantastical, first issue that packs an emotional punch with equally fantastic art.

What’s It About?

[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]

We pick up from the end of the first volume with Manco being confronted by Marshall Mathers and her droid in the desert. She’s hunting for Prescott and the stolen weapons, but she doesn’t know that Manco is on the same mission for different, personal reasons.

Cut to Prescott and the crew stopping for lunch at a small diner near Billy’s hometown. While the crew waits for service, each member of the crew shares bits and pieces of their experiences in the war, how they got in, and what life is like since.

In stark contrast to the patriotic glamorization of war efforts, the writers take the time to paint a less hospitable time for a black man in America, even when that man would have rather given his life for this country than have the choice to fight forced on him. Conscription is a reality for all men in America, and it’s interesting to see how creators make effective use of conscription combined with the racial injustices of the time period. Race is a common plot point these days, but this is a unique twist that’s worth more attention.

While the 117th eats, they notice a picture on the wall of Billy and his wife, Julia. When asked, the waitress explains Julia’s fallen on hard times since Billy’s death, and the 117th decide to pay her a visit. Before they leave, some of the locals make some insulting comments when they hear Julia’s name, implying her troubles are her own fault and starting a minor scuffle with the 117th.

This scene was a bit confusing because it’s not clear how Julia’s woes are her own fault or why the townspeople would be against her. Readers don’t need spoon-feeding but this point needed clarification.

Cut to an introduction to Julia, who’s shooting at men on her front porch. With Billy gone, the bank is foreclosing on her land and she has five days to vacate. Bank loans and compassion make for bad partners, and the repo gang’s leader knocks Julia out cold before she manages to shoot anyone.

Next, we get a flashback scene walking readers through the gruesome experiments performed on wounded and dead soldiers returning from the war. The art is rendered in a weathered, newspaper finish to effectively set it apart as a flashback and to give the images a tone of older times. It’s here we get a quick origin of Wilcox as a close equivalent to a reanimated corpse ala Frankenstein’s monster.

The 117th arrives at Julia’s farm. At first, Julia thinks they’re more thugs from the bank, but they quickly explain they’re old soldier friends of Billy. The emotional stress of the situation causes Julia to faint.

Later, Julia brings the 117th into her home and they enjoy some supper as the 117th offers to help with repairs around the farm. Even though Billy’s home is new to the 117th, the writers do an excellent job infusing the scene with a strong sense of homecoming and family.

We conclude the issue with the 117th starting to make repairs in honor of Billy’s memory and Manco striking a deal.

How Does It End?

Three eyes are better than two. One eye is still a darn good shot. The hunt resumes.

Final Thoughts

BROKEN GARGOYLES: SIN AND VIRTUE #1 is dramatic and powerful writing coupled with bold, colorful art. That said, readers are dropped into several open threads that make it a challenge to jump in, so go back and read volume one first.

Score: 8/10