WOUNDED WORLDS #1 – An Honest Review

In WOUNDED WORLDS #1, available on April 15th, 2020 from Ryan J. Hodge, an epic science fiction tale enfolds over decades as three interstellar civilizations war for the right to exist and conquer.

The Details

• Written By: Ryan J. Hodge
• Art By: Steph ‘CT’ Kinney
• Colors By: Lacrainth Studios
• Letters By: Steph ‘CT’ Kinney
• Cover Art By: Alexander Cutri
• Cover Price: $2.99 (digital version)
• Release Date: April 15, 2020

Was It Good?

It depends on your taste for deep, hardcore, academic science fiction. This reviewer enjoys exploring the technical concepts and “getting into the weeds,” as they say, about intergalactic politics and evolutionary biology. Admittedly, these concepts may come across as too dry and academic for the casual reader, so in this case, ‘good’ relies on your interest in hardcore sci-fi.

The art is serviceable. Of the three species involved in the interstellar conflict in this first issue, two are of the human-looking variety. The third looks humanoid enough with a canine-like snout, so the creature designs aren’t terribly imaginative. In short, they get the job done.

The one down in this first issue is the frequent use of alien language interspersed in the human dialogue. Only through significant, repetitive use of particular alien words in context did they make sense, and there are still certain words we’re not quite sure we understand. It’s commendable to invent whole languages for a new world, but peppering those words into the human speech created speed bumps that broke up the flow and pace of the reading.

It would have served better to stick with one language, depending on the scene, and translate when necessary with a caption box.

What’s It About?

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

The Hilean Empire, a race of humanoids with a vaguely kangaroo-like appearance, considers themselves the superior race in the galaxy and has taken it upon themselves to bring all sentient worlds under their rule.

The world of Talveras has been under Hilean occupation for many years. Unable to free themselves, the people of Talveras have resigned themselves to live as kept servants under brutal Hilean overlords.

Earth soon suffers the same fate as Talveras, but occupation is tenuous and short-lived. Post-occupation Earth, referred to by the other alien worlds as NUSA, begins to muster the support of alien worlds that are either under the thumb of Hilean rule or are threatened by the Hilean Empire’s encroaching armies.

Got it? Good.

We begin with a Hilean commander, Abushi Omnst, brutalizing two Talveras civilians covering for family members who have gone missing. Omnst is not really interested in petty civilians, but this public display of terrorizing civilians is meant to draw out the Talveras rebel who scarred his face some time ago.

Jump to Earth, five months after Hilean occupation. A young man barely into his teens, named Ruan Altman, is part of a work camp when Earth rebels raid the camp and free the humans. In the chaos, Ruan is forced to kill a Hilean mother and child. Many years later, the killing weighs on him as he assumes his command as a NUSA commissar newly arrived on Talveras five months after the planet is liberated from Hilean occupation.

There’s a lot to track. The timeframes jump back and forth and from one world to another. To keep the story straight requires focus, attention, and a good memory.

However, if dense complex storytelling is your cup of tea, this will be right up your alley.

How Does It End?

Altman’s traveling companion gives an unsettling description of the Novum. One Novum we’ve seen before in the issue takes special notice of the commissar’s arrival. Altman’s tenure on Talveras promises to be eventful.

Final Thoughts

WOUNDED WORLDS #1, available on April 15th, 2020 from Ryan J. Hodge, follows the classical tradition of dense, complex science fiction that focuses just as much on the ‘how’ as much as the ‘why.’

Score: 8/10