Rasputin #1
Back from the not quite dead yet.
Writer: Alex Grecian
Artist: Riley Rossmo
Publisher: Image
Rasputin: man of mystery both real and fictional, Russian icon, villian extraordinaire (looking at you, Hellboy) and so much more. Grigori Rasputin: man at the center of his own comic....finally.
Alex Grecian and Riley Rossmo, creators of PROOF (A really, really good Image series. Check it out) offer up their new series in the form of Rasputin. A fictionalized version of the real life mad monk (who guided and maybe killed the famous Romanovs), the story seems like it will focus on the life and death of the titular character with ghosts, magic and game of thrones like politics all thrown in for good measure.
Grecian does a great job of characterizing Rasputin in this first issue even if there are very few "speaking parts". Rasputin's growing up in Siberia does a lot of talking without ACTUALLY saying anything at all. That's an achievement in and of itself. His magical abilities carry weight, his actions against his father carry even more. It all ties into this mysterious character. How much is fictional and how much is real is yet to be revealed. It is revealed, and revealed well though, that Rasputin will die. That's more than enough to keep me interested. It could be better, you don't get a sense of the characters and their motivations but still, it's more than enough.
Rossmo's art speaks when the characters themselves don't. The art is expansive, cold and real. I've never been to Russia but I'll believe Rossmo when he depicts Siberia the way he does simply because it's so pretty and believable. You want to think it's real. You're pulled into Rasputin's world for better or worse. The sketch like frames of some characters and the way in which they move is visceral and natural. It's good. Really good. Rasputin himself is even better.
This is how strong an Image first issue should be but, a first issue can only be so strong. This is an example of that. I could've done with more speaking, more characterization, but I was so wrapped up in it that I didn't think about it later. That's enought to keep me on for now.
Writer: Alex Grecian
Artist: Riley Rossmo
Publisher: Image
Rasputin: man of mystery both real and fictional, Russian icon, villian extraordinaire (looking at you, Hellboy) and so much more. Grigori Rasputin: man at the center of his own comic....finally.
Alex Grecian and Riley Rossmo, creators of PROOF (A really, really good Image series. Check it out) offer up their new series in the form of Rasputin. A fictionalized version of the real life mad monk (who guided and maybe killed the famous Romanovs), the story seems like it will focus on the life and death of the titular character with ghosts, magic and game of thrones like politics all thrown in for good measure.
Grecian does a great job of characterizing Rasputin in this first issue even if there are very few "speaking parts". Rasputin's growing up in Siberia does a lot of talking without ACTUALLY saying anything at all. That's an achievement in and of itself. His magical abilities carry weight, his actions against his father carry even more. It all ties into this mysterious character. How much is fictional and how much is real is yet to be revealed. It is revealed, and revealed well though, that Rasputin will die. That's more than enough to keep me interested. It could be better, you don't get a sense of the characters and their motivations but still, it's more than enough.
Rossmo's art speaks when the characters themselves don't. The art is expansive, cold and real. I've never been to Russia but I'll believe Rossmo when he depicts Siberia the way he does simply because it's so pretty and believable. You want to think it's real. You're pulled into Rasputin's world for better or worse. The sketch like frames of some characters and the way in which they move is visceral and natural. It's good. Really good. Rasputin himself is even better.
This is how strong an Image first issue should be but, a first issue can only be so strong. This is an example of that. I could've done with more speaking, more characterization, but I was so wrapped up in it that I didn't think about it later. That's enought to keep me on for now.
A Look Inside
