The Last God #1 Review

Written by: Phillip K. Johnson

Pencils & Inks by: Riccardo Federici

Colored by: Sunny Gho with Dean V. White

Published by: DC Black Label

Now that Vertigo as an imprint is defunct, DC Black Label has taken over the reins of publishing more adult/mature content. Up to date, that has mostly meant more superhero fare, but with The Last God, we finally get a taste of something different on offer. 

The new maxi-series is set in the world of Cain Anuun where the great evil, The Last God, was vanquished 30 years ago by the current King Tyr and a host of heroes. Johnson quickly establishes these facts for the reader in the first four pages of the comic through the narration of the Gladiatorial master of ceremonies.It’s a neat narrative trick that masks the exposition to this new story within the story itself. 

We are introduced to the major players and story beat in this new series: the King Tyr who was one among many heroes to vanquish the Last God, the Aelvan Nation, the nation of Tyrgolad, and finally the Plague of Flowers, which was the battle from 30 years ago. Couple this with the introduction of Eyvindr, a slave/gladiator that appears to be our protagonist, as well as the Queen of Tyrgolad, and you have a nice introduction from Johnson to this world in just a handful of pages. 

The inciting factor for our story is shown to the reader in a couple of different ways throughout the issue and Johnson makes sure not to show his hand right away. There are hints sprinkled throughout that lead the reader to some possible conclusions and towards the end of this first issue, we get a better idea of what is to follow. 

Federici, Gho and White are an artist that I haven’t seen much of before, but are definitely tailor made for a series of this nature. Federici’s pencils and inks are very polished throughout and give a sense of realism without being “traced”. It’s a style that I’ve seen often when it comes to fantasy-based comics that have a touch of the medieval in it and it just fits with it. 

What this issue excels at above all else is the coloring from Gho and White. Throughout the issue I kept thinking how much the coloring brought out Federici’s pencils and added to the atmosphere of the comic. It’s typical for comics to use shades of blue and purple to showcase nighttime, but here, Gho and White’s perfectly us this mix of colors to add a sense of dread to what is to come next.