Publisher: Image Comics
Writer: Alex Grecian
Artist: Riley Rossmo, Ivan Plascencia
Release Date: 29th July, 2015

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Last night, while our foul Glaswegian summer did it’s best to suggest inhospitable Russian winters, I hunkered down under a duvet and gleefully tore my way through Rasputin’s first arc, wondering why I’d not picked up this series sooner. The series is damn good fun while also creating a nuanced and interesting portrayal of the so-called ‘Mad Monk’. Though after falling for the bleak Russian settings and folkloric flavour of the first few issues, I was somewhat resentful of being wrenched alongside Grigori into modern America. However, #6 and #7 have more than reassured me that Alex Grecian knows what he’s doing and that this bold, pulpy choice will pay off.

#7 focuses on the fallout of last issue’s failed assassination, with a world-weary Grigori being interrogated by determined journalist, Shanae. She has deduced his real identity and apparently has the evidence to back up her findings. We also flash back to his time in Petrograd where we see Grigori in an different light as charismatic but humble folk hero, surrounded by doting peasants who address him as ‘starets’ or elder. Not everyone is as enamoured of our hero, however and it’s only a matter of time before the growing resentment of Rasputin’s powers interrupts this brief respite. The narrative plays some fun temporal tricks and I particularly enjoyed a call-back to the attempted poisoning, with Rasputin wryly telling Shanae, ‘I don’t drink wine.’

Ivan Plascencia’s colours do an excellent job keeping the contemporary and historical strands of the narrative untangled, with warmer tones of modern America contrasting nicely with the chilly pastels of turn-of-the-century Russia. Although we see Rasputin in a variety of guises, from grizzled young man to polished political player, the character always reads well thanks to Rossomo’s strong character design with his stark features and wiry, almost rag-doll physique. His scratchy, almost agitated line work seems to quietly buzz in the background, adding to the tension that keeps things moving even in extended dialogue-heavy scenes.

The comic plays fast and loose with the admittedly hazy biographical details of Rasputin’s life, but in a way that makes perfect sense for a figure that is more legend than man. This month’s issue ends on a brilliant tease that’s left me hungry to see how Rasputin’s timeline play will tear up and play with existing history. Ending on Grigori’s declaration, ‘I’m an American now’, the series is owning its dramatic departure from historical lore, adapting, chameleon-like to its new setting just like our hero.

Rating: 4/5.

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The writer of this piece was: Kirsty Hunter

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