FIRE AND ICE #1, from Dynamite Comics on 8/2/23, returns to the world myth and legend when a young hunter is captured for a witch’s sacrifice by the son of the Ice Kingdom’s ruling sorceress.
The Details
- Written by: Bill Willingham
- Art by: Leonardo Manco
- Colors by: Leonardo Manco
- Letters by: Taylor Esposito
- Cover art by: Bill Sienkiewicz (cover A)
- Comic Rating: Teen+
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: August 2, 2023
Is It Good?
With the blessings of the Frazetta family, Dynamite returns to the world of Fire and Ice for a tale of hunters and the hunted, magic and monsters, and the brutal fight for survival when caught between enemy nations. Bill Willingham transports readers to a world rich with sword & sorcery adventure.
Willingham’s script centers on the ever-present hostilities between the Fire and Ice Kingdoms and the assortment of jungle tribes caught between them. Larn, the young but gifted hunter, gets caught in the machinations of the wicked sorceress Juliana as she consolidates her power among witches, cannibals, and giants, to prepare her seige on the Fire Kingdom to become the ultimate ruler.
Admittedly, the short description above doesn’t cover half of what happens in this comic. Willingham seems determined to give readers a rich story that read well and packs in as much world- and character-building at the same time. The reading experience isn’t so dense as to be impenetrable, but you get more than enough story for the cover price. In short, Willingham ensures you get your money’s worth and more.
What’s great about his comic? Willingham’s world- and character0-building is outstanding. The scenes, locations, tribes, and plot developments all feel like part of a larger interconnected world where Larn’s journey is one of many tales once told and yet to be told. Fire and Ice feels like an exploration of a fully fleshed-out, lived-in world, ripe with endless storytelling opportunities.
What’s not so great about this comic? Admittedly, there’s a lot happening very quickly, so you have to keep up or get left behind in following what’s happening. Some characters are only briefly introduced or only seen but not introduced, so you have to put a modicum of trust in Willingham that the introductions will come later. If you don’t have that trust, you may feel lost in spots.
How’s the art? Leonardo Manco is clearly channeling Frank Frazetta’s art style without directly aping Frazetta’s style, so you get a look that’s new and familiar at the same time. Admittedly, Manco loses a little detail on the wide shots, especially with the figure work, but on the whole, this comic looks 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 a group of young hunters heading into the jungle, led by their Hunter Father. Hunter Father tells tales and lessons to grant wisdom to the young hunters, particularly of their lot living between the constantly warring Ice and Fire Kingdoms. Larn, one of the most gifted of the young hunters, is sent to catch dinner. While the group eats Larn’s catch, they’re ambushed by a rival tribe under the control of the Ice Kingdom’s queen and sorceress, Juliana. Everyone is killed except Larn, who is captured as a sacrifice for a witch in league with Juliana.
Later, the rival hunters, carrying Larn to the witch, are spied on by two female hunters from a more civilized tribe. The female hunters recognize the rival’s leader as Prince Kaleda, Juliana’s son, so they follow the rival hunters.
Larn is delivered to the witch for a blood sacrifice, but before the witch delivers the killing stroke, the female hunters burst through the hut door to stop the witch’s ritual. We conclude the issue with pursuing giants, deadly barbarians, and poisonous brothers.
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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FIRE AND ICE #1 returns readers to Frank Frazetta’s world of fantasy for a tale about a young unter drawn into a conflict of magic, monsters, and metal. Willingham’s script is packed with plot, world, and character development to give readers the most bang for their buck, and Manco’s art is inspired by Frazetta’s style while offering a fresh take on the iconic visuals.
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