I, TYRANT #1 – New Comic Review

I, Tyrant #1, by Image Comics on 7/30/25, attempts to tell a complex, psychological horror story but instead delivers a muddled and frustrating experience.

Credits:

• Writer: E.E. Zann
• Artist: Godfarr
• Colorist: Godfarr
• Letterer: Amir Zann
• Cover Artist: Jason Shawn Alexander (cover A)
• Publisher: Image Comics
• Release Date: July 30, 2025
• Comic Rating: Teen
• Cover Price: $3.99
• Page Count: 36
• Format: Single Issue

Covers:

Analysis of I, TYRANT #1:

First Impressions:

My initial reaction to I, Tyrant #1 was a mix of bewilderment and disappointment. The chaotic visuals and disjointed narrative made it an immediate struggle to follow.

Plot Analysis:

The story opens with an unnamed narrator lamenting his current state, feeling his body has withered down to a head “stuffed full of crisis, qualms, visions of Zahhak, and some other odorous wastes”. He decides to share these experiences with his pro bono therapist. The therapist introduces a story about a man with a “huge appetite for life” and warns the narrator to be careful when he opens it. This story seems to be a play written by the narrator, Hafez, which caused significant upheaval in his life, upsetting his father, wife, the university ad board, and “a few big, scary persons”. His father is particularly upset about an “unpublished text” that Hafez is working on, which his mother says he agreed to take a breather from.

The narrative then shifts to a dream sequence, or possibly a hallucination, involving Zahhak, a figure described as a “creation myth needs a devil”. In this dream, Zahhak is a king or tyrant whose wrath is feared. Hafez experiences a vision of Zahhak’s rule, where people are sacrificed and turned into fodder for serpents that grow from Zahhak’s shoulders. The dream portrays a brutal reign where people are killed for pleasure and fear.

Throughout this, Hafez is depicted as trapped within this “play” or “dream,” unable to escape its influence. The dream is so vivid and horrifying that Hafez struggles to distinguish it from reality. The story implies a connection between Hafez’s internal struggles, his creative work, and the destructive nature of the Zahhak narrative, suggesting that his play has unleashed something terrible into his life.

The issue concludes with Hafez still grappling with these nightmarish visions and the overwhelming feeling that his life has spiraled into chaos because of this “play” or “dream”. The therapist asks if Hafez thinks what Zahhak went through was “stupid and easy”, highlighting the profound impact these experiences are having on him. The line, “IT DOESN’T HAVE TO END THIS WAY,” suggests a potential for choice or agency, even amidst the chaos.

Story

The story is incredibly difficult to follow, jumping between what seems to be reality, therapy sessions, and vivid, unsettling dream sequences without clear transitions. It feels less like a structured narrative and more like a stream of consciousness, making it a chore to understand what’s actually happening. The dialogue often feels fragmented and poetic, which, while perhaps intended to add depth, mostly adds to the confusion. The central theme of a creative work taking over one’s life is interesting, but its execution is so opaque that any potential impact is lost.

Art

The artwork, while distinctive, heavily relies on a gritty, almost watercolor-like style that often makes scenes blurry and hard to interpret. While some panels are striking in their grotesqueness, particularly during the Zahhak sequences, the overall lack of clarity in the visuals mirrors the narrative’s disjointedness. Character expressions are sometimes clear, but the action sequences are often muddy and difficult to discern, contributing to the overall sense of disorientation. The heavy use of dark colors further obscures details, making some pages almost indecipherable.

Characters

The main character, Hafez, is presented as a tortured artist whose creative endeavors have led him down a dark path. However, his motivations and internal struggles are so vaguely presented that it’s hard to empathize with him. The therapist serves as a sounding board, but their interactions do little to clarify the plot or Hafez’s state of mind. Zahhak, the tyrannical figure, is more of a monstrous concept than a character, embodying the destructive forces at play. None of the characters are given enough clear development to make them feel real or engaging.

Positives

The concept of a creator being consumed by their own work, to the point where fictional horrors bleed into reality, is genuinely intriguing. The darker, more surreal art style, when it does land, effectively conveys a sense of unease and psychological distress. There are moments of visually arresting horror, particularly when Zahhak’s monstrous form is depicted, hinting at the potential for a truly disturbing experience if the narrative were clearer.

Negatives

The biggest failure of this comic is its utter lack of narrative cohesion. The story is an incomprehensible mess, making it impossible to care about the characters or their plight. The constant, abrupt shifts between reality and dream/hallucination are disorienting rather than atmospheric. The dialogue, while aiming for profundity, often comes across as nonsensical. The art, despite its unique style, frequently sacrifices clarity for mood, making it difficult to understand the action or even what’s being depicted in many panels. The pacing is erratic, with moments that drag on without purpose and others that rush by, leaving important plot points unexplained.

Art Samples:

Final Thoughts:

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I, TYRANT #1 is a frustrating debut that squanders a promising premise with an incredibly muddled execution. While it attempts to deliver a profound psychological horror, it instead delivers a headache. Unless you enjoy deciphering abstract puzzles with little payoff, this is one to skip.

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