These comics will challenge your perceptions, ignite your curiosity, and leave you pondering the vast complexities of the universe we inhabit. These thought-provoking narratives question our purpose, reality, and the very essence of existence itself. Dive into our Fresh Friday Features for an introspective journey into the reasons for living.
This week, ArtCrumbs picked four titles that they feel deserve more reads! In our line-up this week, we've got one comic from each category to give you a varied list of must-reads for your weekend!
- Comic - Death of a Necromancer: Without death, what truly matters? What’s more important – survival or community? And can even a necromancer die?
- Graphic Novel - The Forgotten Blade: An enchantress recruits an amoral mercenary to save the souls of her children who were cursed by an inquisition.
- Manga - BLOOD GUILT: A choice to die forever or come back to life to kill monsters.
- Webcomic - LAND OF THE GODS: The crown Prince of the Vimmer empire struggles to find meaning through the suffering whilst the pressure of being the last heir.
Death of a Necromancer, 90 pages - Published by Nick Bryan, (cc/ @NickBryan)
When necromancer Dr Victoria Hedgewood sets up shop in the small town of Tibbin, local residents rush to resurrect their loved ones. But newly living corpse Ralph Foster starts to wonder – is there a dark side to Victoria’s irresistible offer? And will the grateful residents listen to his concerns? Death of a Necromancer is a series by writer Nick Bryan, artist Robert Ahmad, colourist David Cooper and letterer DC Hopkins asking the big questions, such as – without death, what truly matters? What’s more important – survival or community? And can even a necromancer die?
Story and Art by David Cooper, DC Hopkins, Nick Bryan, Robert Ahmad
Comments from @ArtCrumbs:
Just when everything was going well for Ralph, it doesn't anymore. After an accident at a construction site, Ralph winds up in debt to and working for a Necromancer as her assistant. He works remotely, doing the dirty work. When his boss comes to him with a plan to give herself immortality, he has his reservations, and it definitely does not go as planned! A man from the Necromancy govt comes calling for her and that cannot be good!
I've only completed the first chapter, and I've added this to my reading for the weekend. The artwork is great, it's got soft colors that don't overtake the lines. Any of the "dirty-work" is done in a tasteful manner. Adorable chickens are always a plus! If you aren't afraid of some heavy topics and a little blood mixed in with some humorously awkward situations, I definitely recommend you read it.
The Forgotten Blade, 178 pages - Published by TKO Studios, (cc/ @MeganChristopher)
An enchantress recruits an amoral mercenary to save the souls of her children who were cursed by an inquisition in this action-packed fantasy epic. To do that, they must brave the Five Rivers, infiltrate the Citadel, and vanquish the most powerful adversary of all: the malevolent God who created this world in the first place.
Story and Art by Jeff Powell, Toni Fejzula, Tze Chun
Comments from @ArtCrumbs:
This Graphic Novel was actually recommended to me by a friend and I am so glad they did. The art alone is worth reading this for. Beautiful colors, smooth and flowing lineart, amazing use of both light and dark colors. IT looks entirely traditional as well?? Stunning. Absolutely stunning. Loved the real lack of solid borders too, the soft edges were a nice contrast to the super clean art. What I really liked though, and I'm unsure if this was intentional, but the art seemed to change from region to region within the story. Some of it was softer as a whole, sometimes, more linear and more line "play" in general. Very subtle, but very cool from an immersion angle.
As for the story, it's a classic tale, a fight against an all powerful god with a sacred, mysterious weapon. There's five different "realms", and you get to travel through all of them, meet the various people. The world building is solid, consistent, and unique enough that it feels completely of its own, yet strangely familiar. Mercenaries, war, an honor to serve the people, lore and mystical weapons, this literally has it all! Please read this! You will not regret it!
BLOOD GUILT, 91 pages - Published by Playing With Ink, (cc/ @PlayingwithInk01)
A group of people find themselves faced in a dilemma, having a choice to die or come back to life as a kage for the sole purpose of killing outsiders which are monsters.
Story and Art by Playing With Ink
Comments from @ArtCrumbs:
What would you do to come back from the dead? This strange yet intriguing first chapter got more and more unsettling the longer it went. First a weird and scary place, more and more people show up, begging to leave, getting scared, and it culminates in one of the many crowd members being killed in front of everyone. A deal is to be made, but will anyone accept it? Will anyone become a killer to be brought back to life?
I felt like the art was a little rough in some places, and there were sometimes the lineart and panel borders could be handled a bit better and cleaned up. That said, I really enjoyed the posing, dynamic shots and clear effort that went into this. I think if some of those little things can be refined, this could be a really solid series. I'm definitely interested after one chapter, and it's on my weekend list! Great job!
LAND OF THE GODS, 15 pages - Published by Hybrid, (cc/ @Hybrid)
"You are not meant to exist" - Bearing a curse from birth that damned him to non-existence, the crown Prince of the Vimmer empire struggles to find meaning through the suffering whilst the pressure of being the last heir and the potential chaos it ensues as power hungry Kings seeks an opening for the throne." Would you sacrifice yourself if it meant salvation for millions of people? for Blaize, hell no, cause he is no hero. ( A/N : update Weekly Sunday anytime of the day, spread the word of this comic :> share in your social media and friends thanks for reading <3 )
Story and Art by Hybrid
Comments from @ArtCrumbs:
Deep red signaling the beginning of the end. Of war, of suffering. Strange beasts, and a decision must be made if it's worth it to lose a part of yourself to save everyone else. Being the last of a family line is a tremendous weight to bear. I deeply felt for the main character by the end of that first chapter. It looks like a horrific situation to be in.
The art of the first chapter matches the feeling and mood. I'm really excited to see how things will change as I only read that first chapter to get my first impressions. The cover looks bright and beautiful, so there must be better days ahead! I'm in love with the rough style and extreme emotion, I was able to get in just the first chapter alone. I love drama and intense feels. I'm definitely wanting more!
If you like drama, fantasy, and don't mind some war and blood, this story is for you too!
That's all for now, but we'll have another set of Fresh Friday reading recommendations next week. If you're looking for more recommendations, make sure to opt-in for our weekly reading list email! You can find that in your User Profile Notification settings. You can also browse through our Featured Comics news section!
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