Publisher: Image Comics
Writer: Rick Remender
Artist: Bengal
Release Date: 13th March 2024

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Do you know that gameshow where they reveal random portions of a picture one at a time, and you have to guess what it is? Well, imagine placing yourself halfway through one of those games, at the point where you have some idea of what you are looking at but are not yet 100% sure, and that’s kind of the feeling you get when you finish reading issue one of Napalm Lullaby. I’m not confused as such, but I do have a vague sense of missing some key points that will help me fully understand what I’m reading. And yet, this sensation is far from off-putting. In fact, it makes me want more.

The crux is that trying to explain the comic in a review is problematic because I don’t want to be utterly wrong in what I say. At this point I can’t, in all confidence, know that what I am saying is 100% correct. Confused yet? Excellent.

So, I’ll review what I know is happening with this comic. So far, I would compare the themes in this comic to a William Gibson novel spliced with a sprinkling of The Chronicles of Riddick and elements of a clever heist movie like The Sting. Yeah, bear with me here. So, the comic opens with what I assume is a pair of religious activists trying to do some good. Somehow, they become embroiled in what appears to be a futuristic tech war exchange where soldiers are chasing down some super-charged alien baby in a mech suit. The alien baby kills its hunters, and the religious couple believes providence gives them the child they want. As you do.

Fast forward 50 years, and, well, the world seems f*cked. This is where I got a bit lost. So, the religion our two crazy parents followed seems to have taken over the world. Our protagonists (at least, I think that’s what they are) have tasked an intermediary to steal some religious items. They exchange items in what seems to be the Matrix (or some kind of Cyberspace) reality when everything goes wrong. Much violence and trickery ensue. I will stop there because I’m not doing this justice, and it should be experienced for oneself.

Rick Remender (Deadly Class, Death or Glory) brings us what he coins: “a world where ideas are no longer debatable.” This story is born of his vision of a theocratic totalitarian society and the few people on the fringes who want to do something about it. Remender states that he’s been working on this story for a few years, which is probably the saving grace here. Instead of chucking this comic as a garbled jumble, you feel that this story is established; it just doesn’t quite make sense yet, but it will be worth it if you stay the course. I believe that, and I honestly still do not fully understand what is happening, even after reading the issue several times to review it. It’s compelling. I want to work out exactly what’s happening, and I keep circling back to it. I keep picking it up to see if I missed a frame that contains some information that will make everything make more sense.

French artist Bengal (Death or Glory) again teams up with Rick Remember. The success of their previous collaboration spills into this story. The kiss-kiss-bang-bang vibrancy is there again, with a fluidity of movement that pushes the eye from frame to frame as our protagonists try to escape their pursuers. The action and gore scenes are excellent and not over the top. I’m very much warming to this comic.

I don’t know what else to say about this comic without possibly getting things wrong. I will say that rather than be turned off by the holes in the opening issue of this story, I’m intrigued. I really want to know more about this world. I’m interested in how Remender says the creation of this story parodies what’s been happening to our world over the last few years. Plus, with a creator or his pedigree, you know you are in for a quality story. I’d give this issue a solid 4/5. It’s a bit of a thinker, and I’m not sure everyone will enjoy this aspect. I found it really compelling.

Rating: 4/5.

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[PREVIEW ARTWORK – CLICK TO ENLARGE]

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The writer of this piece was: Andrew McGlinn
Andrew Tweets from @Jockdoom.

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