The Last Wardens from Mad Cave Studios is a co-written epic by Edenfrost‘s Amit Tishler and Elliot Sperl. The pulse pounding artwork from Rui Silveira works with the colorist and letterer to deliver a decent emotional drama. With a release date on July 17, it’s worth following for its lead.
The Last Wardens: Synopsis
The Last Wardens plunges readers into the supernatural horror of 1975 Oregon through the eyes of Danielle Pryor. Burdened with a drunk, abusive father and the loss of her brother Bruce in the Vietnam War, Danielle’s life is filled with hardship despite having supportive friends. Just as she’s ready to leave her troubled life behind, her supposedly dead brother returns – but not as she remembered him.
A Lead And A Tone
Elliot Sperl and Amit Tishler craft a compelling narrative that deeply connects readers with Danny. Her life is a poignant mix of supportive friends and overwhelming family struggles. The return of Bruce, initially a relief, soon twists into horror, setting a haunting tone for the series.
When the second issue brings this terror for the rest of the town, readers experience what few comforts Danny has slip away. In the panic, Danny and a couple of her friends are able to brave the terrors as best as they can. But the panic is extremely overwhelming, especially on Danny since she brought to her home. At the very least Danny shows leadership that get people like her friend Keith to act despite his fears. The same can’t be said for all of them like Mark. Not that readers blame him; this is a situation that might be too big for people like them.
Art Says All
Rui Silveira’s artwork masterfully conveys the story’s tension. The use of tilted, uneven panels during Bruce’s transformation amplifies the anticipation and dread. The scene where Bruce contorts and collapses is both grotesque and captivating, with blood seeping into the floor like a sinister fungus. Francesco Segala’s coloring and Frank Cvetkovic’s lettering intensify the horror as the monster takes over Bruce and their home, contrasting starkly with the cooler tones where Danny finds refuge.
The Last Wardens Shoehorning In
As for the titular group of supernatural misfits… they kind of offset that tone with their rushed introduction. Sure their first pages help with setting up the heavy tone. But when they show off their goofy quirks, it detracts from the otherwise immersive storytelling, making it seem like two stories are competing rather than converging. And the Wardens are losing.
I think the point Tishler and Sperl are trying to make with the Wardens are paralleling with Danny and her brother. Their job might be the only thing keeping them going like Danny is with Bruce. And like Bruce, they sound like they might’ve been regular people until becoming their monstrous selves. Only problem is, the pacing of this subplot is not executed well.
The Wardens don’t act sympathetic enough to care about. Half of them are standoffish crybabies who act like they know what they’re doing, but they get in everybody’s way. Even themselves. When push came to shove, Danny shows herself to be a better leader than their disembodied commander. And they’re not even grateful for it.
Keep A Watchful Eye
The Last Wardens is a promising start to a supernatural horror series. There’s a compelling protagonist and a chilling storyline that blends decent character development with unsettling visuals. But this story’s title group drives a black comedic wedge that feels out of place.
So it at least gets 7/10 to hope for something bigger down the line. But it better happen soon!
Thanks for coming to the end and as always remember to look between the panels.