THE REVELATION OF NOVUS ORDO #1, from Scribilly Comics, begins a modern tale of magic as an AWOL soldier for Darkness is given a shot at redemption if he can save a hapless mortal from becoming a pawn in a war among gods.
The Details
- Written By: Billy Diamond Jr.
- Art By: Billy Diamond Jr
- Colors By: Billy Diamond Jr
- Letters By: Billy Diamond Jr
- Cover Art By: Billy Diamond Jr
- Cover Price: $1.00 (digital edition)
- Release Date: Available now
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Was It Good?
THE REVELATION OF NOVUS ORDO #1 is a solid urban fantasy about the constant battle between the forces of good and evil brimming under the surface of the modern world. If you’ve got a hankering for material such as American Gods and Harry Potter with a slightly more adult edge, this may just be the comic you’re looking for.
The plot centers around a former magic wielder and soldier, Hemi, beholden to the ancient goddess Tiamat. Hemi escaped Tiamat’s service years ago and chose to lay low by living a quiet and mundane life. Diamond’s protagonist is gruff and battle-weary from too many years of following evil orders and subsequently doing what he can to atone. Hemi’s likable in spite of his flaws, and it’s easy to care about what happens to him as much as the innocent woman he’s hired to protect. Good stories start by emotionally connecting to the characters, and on this point, Diamond succeeds beautifully.
Once the action gets going, it’s easy to follow along as the agent from both sides of the Cold War take increasingly drastic steps to get to women in Hemi’s care. The plot’s pacing is excellent. Diamond hits each plot point with a steady cadence to make you feel like you’re getting your money’s worth of story. And, readers get the added benefit of mythological Easter Eggs as the names of gods and monsters are dropped in unlikely places to let you know the myths are more real than most realize. Overall, this comic is an enjoyable reading experience.
As for the art, it’s fine. Diamond’s vision for magical shenanigans is a fitting complement to the urban fantasy setting of the material. The characters are distinctive, and the overall panel compositions are quite good. However, the linework, especially on character anatomy and faces, lacks consistency and symmetry. Character facial profiles look significantly different from one page to the next. Sometimes from one panel to the next. It’s not so bad that you couldn’t tell who’s who, but the distortion effects are evident.
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What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
We begin with an introduction to Hemi, a simple man who cooks and cleans in the local Noodle King restaurant. One night, Hemi heads out back for a smoke break where he’s approached by an old friend, Harry the son of Zeus. Hemi and Harry haven’t talked in years, and Harry’s come up with a proposition – help Oracle find a powerful girl before Tiamat, Hemi’s former master, does. In exchange, Zeus may be able to remove a dark mark cursed to Hemi’s chest as part of his everlasting bond to Tiamat.
Hemi refuses as he wants no part of an old war but he later reconsiders after considering the worth of his freedom. Hemi easily tracks down the girl to a nearby apartment. Unfortunately, Taiamat’s minions are there before Hemi, so the battle begins. We conclude the issue with worms, amber, and an old voice in a new body.
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Final Thoughts
THE REVELATION OF NOVUS ORDO #1 is a fun and imaginative tale about the magical world beneath our own and the forces who seek to control it. The writing is tight, well-paced, organic, and entertaining. The B&W art is generally good, but the linework could use some finesse and symmetry consistency on the characters.
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