Comic Review : Reyn #1

Warden Reyn is not happy with being the hero. He prays to the goddess Aurora as if he was talking to himself, flippantly and self-deprecatingly. “I just don’t know why I have to rescue every damsel who suddenly finds herself in distress,” he moans to Aurora, “I just don’t know why I can’t finish my beer.” Not that the damsel in question, Seph, is in much need of rescuing. While she calls herself a healer and a follower of Tek, her magical arts are weaponized, and she can defeat four guards handily. The town of Ledwain is swarming with guards that were dispatched by Brother M’Thall, a half-lizard, half-man with a tail as long as his body that trails his cowled robes of office. Brother M’Thall is disturbed, because he thought he saw the last of the Wardens slain two thousand years ago.

Like the most popular fantasy comic series in the 1970s, such as Conan or Warlord, Reyn is accessible and direct. You know who the heroes are, despite their reluctance, and the snake-headed villains seem unambiguously evil, issuing orders to silence the slightest threat to their rule. The heroes act with deadly seriousness, which makes their sense of humor all the more surprising. The fantasy realm of Fate and many of the conventions of the story are lifted straight out of the fantasy genre, and seem so familiar as to be friendly to the reader. There aren’t any pointy-eared elves or gold-loving dwarves yet, but the day is young, and until we have the whole story, we can enjoy the giant spiders and lizard-men.

All told, Reyn #1 is an upbeat read that is not only a great entry point for new comics readers, but it will also refresh the most jaded of long-time comics readers. The comic is such an unlooked-for thing, such a gift, that it comes across not only as a great story, but also as if series creators Kel Symons and Nate Stockman were co-Dungeon-mastering an unforgettable tabletop RPG, just for the reader’s benefit.

Reyn #1 is released January 21st at comic shops, and if you’re not lucky to score yourself a copy, you can buy it digitally through comiXology or the Image website.

(Editor’s Note:  This review was originally published January 20th, 2015.)