Review – Dawnrunner #1 (Dark Horse Comics)

March 18, 2024

2–3 minutes

Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Writer: Ram V
Artist: Evan Cagle
Colorist: Dave Stewart
Letterer: Aditya Bidikar
Release Date: 20th March 2024

Creator Ram V (Blue in Green, Grafity’s Wall) is writing a new five-part series featuring Mechs versus Kaiju. That sentence alone should get you excited. I know it did for me. Perhaps it was over expectation, but I can’t help but feel a little disappointed with issue one. There is very little to separate Dawnrunner from Pacific Rim. Instead of Jaegers, we have Iron Kings. Instead of Kaiju, we have Tetza. Humanity has built a wall to contain them. You can literally draw a straight line between all the similarities.

That said, a few new threads have been woven into the narrative; five mega-corporations have arisen instead of the world uniting against the threat. Presumably, each has their own unique take on Iron Kings. The defence of the planet against the Tetza is followed by the population, almost like a sport. Indeed, the fights are televised on a channel called I-K Sports. There is no drift here. The story begins with the Cordonware Corporation launching its latest Iron King, incorporating a new OS technology integrating Pilot and Mech. The story’s protagonist, Anita Marr, the most successful I-K pilot with the highest number of kills, will take Dawnrunner on its maiden combat encounter with a Tetza. The entirety of this issue is building up to this point, and when Anita does take on the Tetza in Dawnrunner, that is where Ram drops the hook.

The undisputed star of this first issue is artist Evan Cagle (Superman and the Authority #2, Catwoman #32). A relatively new name, his art is dynamite. The use of perspective alone in this comic is worth the entry fee. His crosshatch shading and detailed inkwork are terrific, and how he has visualised how things begin to go off-plan via the link between Anita and the Dawnrunner Mech is downright brilliant. Couple this with a seasoned artist on colours like Dave Stewart (The Umbrella Academy, The Goon), and you have a visual treat. I kid you not. His choice of pallets, depending on where or what is happening in the story at that time, is damn near perfect.

Overall, it is a pretty solid story. Yes, it is overly similar to Pacific Rim, but some breadcrumbs suggest this is not how the story will evolve. Especially the last five pages, which may be the problem. I’m unsure that is enough to get you to the second issue. For people familiar with Ram V, I don’t think it will be an issue. To a potential new reader, I’m not so sure.

Rating: 3/5.

[PREVIEW ARTWORK – CLICK TO ENLARGE]