Review – The Moon Is Following Us #1 (Image Comics)

September 17, 2024

2–3 minutes

Publisher: Image Comics
Writer: Daniel Warren Johnson
Artist: Riley Rossmo
Colorist: Mike Spicer
Release Date: 18th September 2024

Fresh from his well-deserved Best Writer/Artist Eisner Award victory, Daniel Warren Johnson is back at it again with a brand new series, this time showing off his writing chops while handing off the artistic duties to the supremely talented Riley Rossmo.

In typical DWJ style, the bulk of this issue takes the form of a bombastic assault on the senses as the husband-and-wife duo of Sam and Duncan LaMarr attempt to rescue their daughter Penny from the clutches of the evil Cascade. Blending aspects of science fiction and fantasy, the pair – alongside several allies they have picked up along the way – carve their way through a plethora of creatively-designed enemies in almost video game fashion as they make their way to their goal.

Honestly, if there’s an artist who is perfectly suited to delivering Johnson’s trademark storytelling style other than Johnson himself, it may very well be Riley Rossmo. We’ve been huge fans of Riley here at the Big Comic Page for well over a decade, ever since the heady days of Bedlam, Rebel Blood and Drumhellar – and it’s the latter of these series which definitely comes to mind as Rossmo brings this wild, energetic and boundlessly creative world to the page.

As I mentioned above, the character designs are top notch, with visually fascinating monsters and landscapes from start to finish, all injected with a suitable amount of sizzle courtesy of Mike Spicer’s typically dynamic colour work. I particularly love the outfits that Sam and Duncan end up wearing, all mismatched and colourful, similar to when you start levelling up in a video game and start equipping new, incongruous weapon and armour upgrades.

As engagingly fast-paced as the bulk of this first issue is, it’s only in the final few pages that the true nature of the story is revealed in a beautifully delivered final page sting that absolutely guarantees that anyone picking this one up will be right back here next month to see what happens next. So yes, this is an absolutely bonkers first issue packed with big ideas and mouthwatering visuals, but it also has a beating heart of humanity at its core that will keep the pages turning for the rest of the series. Highly recommended.

Rating: 4.5/5.

[PREVIEW ARTWORK – CLICK TO ENLARGE]