Supreme: Blue Rose #01
Writer: Warren Ellis
Artist: Tula Lotay
Publisher: Image
To be honest, I’ve been on a bit of an “Ellis bender,” as of late. Having picked up on him through Moon Knight, Trees, and At the Zoo (literally just read it for the purpose of citing in this review) I’m a fan of the man’s stuff, so naturally this was the next step in what seems to be progressing fandom. Here however we see Ellis’ penchant for the strange grounding itself (if even a touch) more in reality, as we are introduced to the curious world of Diane Dane.
A seemingly burned out “twenty-something,” Diane is not unlike many her age in holding notions of grandeur and adventure – something we some to learn only after escaping what seems to be a very vivid, and trippy vision from the edge of our own safe reality. There she is introduced to Enigma, a character seemingly more an idea than a man. Before she is sent back to our reality with only brief allusions to futures/realities/etc. that may have yet to occur, she is left with a single warning: “Don’t trust Darius Dax.” Whatever this portent entails, it’s clear that Diane’s “dream” was more than just imaginary in nature; but of course how this will truly affect the plot has yet to be seen.
The world that Ellis has developed in even this single issue is one that holds no punches, and promises to deliver in terms of quirk, wit, and adventure. There’s already a rich narrative going on with just those few characters introduced, and even some of the shorter dialogues are used to establish multidimensional characters – in some cases more literally than figuratively. Lotay’s art is also frantic and exciting, lending to the exposition by lending to an overall “trippier” aesthetic, which ultimately helps to convey not only a sense of mystery, but also to some extent a sense of wonder that makes Dane’s exploits in either of her “worlds” seem grander and larger than life.
As a premiere issue, this tale immediately establishes elements of convolution and ambiguity, but for the better – what we’re left with is the fascinating start to an adventure-mystery transcending time and space boasting potential to be an epic of unimaginable scale. Ellis and Totay have teamed up to deliver a deep and visually stunning Sci-Fi narrative rich in dialogue and character depth in what could be one of Image’s most inventive titles of the year.
Artist: Tula Lotay
Publisher: Image
To be honest, I’ve been on a bit of an “Ellis bender,” as of late. Having picked up on him through Moon Knight, Trees, and At the Zoo (literally just read it for the purpose of citing in this review) I’m a fan of the man’s stuff, so naturally this was the next step in what seems to be progressing fandom. Here however we see Ellis’ penchant for the strange grounding itself (if even a touch) more in reality, as we are introduced to the curious world of Diane Dane.
A seemingly burned out “twenty-something,” Diane is not unlike many her age in holding notions of grandeur and adventure – something we some to learn only after escaping what seems to be a very vivid, and trippy vision from the edge of our own safe reality. There she is introduced to Enigma, a character seemingly more an idea than a man. Before she is sent back to our reality with only brief allusions to futures/realities/etc. that may have yet to occur, she is left with a single warning: “Don’t trust Darius Dax.” Whatever this portent entails, it’s clear that Diane’s “dream” was more than just imaginary in nature; but of course how this will truly affect the plot has yet to be seen.
The world that Ellis has developed in even this single issue is one that holds no punches, and promises to deliver in terms of quirk, wit, and adventure. There’s already a rich narrative going on with just those few characters introduced, and even some of the shorter dialogues are used to establish multidimensional characters – in some cases more literally than figuratively. Lotay’s art is also frantic and exciting, lending to the exposition by lending to an overall “trippier” aesthetic, which ultimately helps to convey not only a sense of mystery, but also to some extent a sense of wonder that makes Dane’s exploits in either of her “worlds” seem grander and larger than life.
As a premiere issue, this tale immediately establishes elements of convolution and ambiguity, but for the better – what we’re left with is the fascinating start to an adventure-mystery transcending time and space boasting potential to be an epic of unimaginable scale. Ellis and Totay have teamed up to deliver a deep and visually stunning Sci-Fi narrative rich in dialogue and character depth in what could be one of Image’s most inventive titles of the year.
A Look Inside
