Publisher: IDW Publishing
Writer: John Raffo
Artist: Nelson Blake II
Release Date: 23rd April 2014

Take some familiar themes from classic Westerns and Samurai movies and throw in a warlord, mechs, a few clones and stage it on another planet and here we are: 7th Sword! The latest title from the Darby Pop/IDW partnership. So, how is it?

The setting is interesting, a sun drenched arid planet with a very turbulent recent history. So much of this opening issue is setting the scene for what is to come. For an issue that is almost entirely exposition, it is neatly done for the most part although the dialogue is always throwing little details at the reader and one of the characters is frankly annoying with it. This guy exists solely to inform the reader of public opinion towards such an outsider.

The art is as stylish as you’d hope for with a few quality panels but can also feel quite stilted at times during some of the busier action scenes. It’s just not as consistent as it could be from panel to panel. It does manage to be interestingly violent though without being full of blood and gore and guts and screams. It’s refreshingly simple with a few quiet blades being slipped into the odd torso here and there. It’s very effective.

With so much going on there is a lot to explain in this opening issue. The setting does grab you but perhaps at the expense of the characters. 7th Sword is certainly an exciting cocktail but one that’s taken ages to be placed in front of me. Hopefully I’ll get to taste it soon.

Rating: 3/5.

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The writer of this piece was: James McQueen
You can also find James on Twitter.