Publisher: Black Box Comics
Writer: Damien Becton
Artist: Rodrigo Rocha
Colours: Lorenzo Berdondini
Release Date: 25th December 2024

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With the second issue of the series on sale this week, we’re taking a look back at the opening chapter of Katabasis from New York-based publisher BlackBox Comics.

Juniper is one of the world’s most deadly mercenaries, tasked with carrying out missions that would be all but impossible for anyone else.  However, her latest assignment – to relieve a terrorist organisation of a “WMD” that ends up being a terrified young girl with some worryingly supernatural abilities – leads to her being killed in action. Oddly, and quite possible as a result of the aforementioned abilities, she finds herself reborn in purgatory as a souped-up version of herself who is tasked with a new mission – save a lost soul trapped in the Underworld and earn redemption and a place in Heaven.

Writer Damien Becton’s story feels a lot like the pitch for a brand new third-person video game slash-em up (a game I would buy and play in an absolute heartbeat, by the way), and he leans into that vibe by bookending this first issue with some gloriously kinetic action sequences. Sure, the middle portion of the issue is a bit of an exposition dump as Juniper adjusts to her new status quo and gets a briefing for her latest mission, but it does a solid enough job of setting the scene and pushing the story forwards.

Artist Rodrigo Rocha is clearly having an absolute blast with the aforementioned action sections, going from stealthy distractions and executions at the start to beautifully choreographed, ballet-esque carnage once Juniper gets her new abilities. The character design for Juniper 2.0 is undeniably cool, even the if the monsters she finds herself dispatching in purgatory are a little generic looking, and the whole thing crackles with a wonderful sense of energy – something which certainly bodes well for what promises to be an action-heavy series moving forwards.

The final pages throw an intriguing wrinkle into the proceedings, offering up some intriguing narrative possibilities as the story unfolds. Katabasis is series which runs the risk of feeling derivative at times, but which manages to keep its head above water by virtue of the sheer enjoyment its creators are clearly having putting it together. Well worth a look if you’re a fan of eye-pleasing violence and supernatural tales of redemption.

Rating: 3.5/5. 

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The writer of this piece was: Craig Neilson-Adams (aka Ceej)
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