Book / Week 35 - Birthright Vol 1
Homecoming. 2024/11/26
BIRTHRIGHT
Creator/writer: Joshua Williamson
Creator/artist: Andrei Bressan
Colourist: Adriano Lucas
Letterer: Pat Brosseau
I initially had some reservation about starting this one. I recall reading the first issue at some point, digitally, and followed through and bought the first volume. But when I grabbed this book for this blog’s required reading, I knew it was a 10 volume series. And unlike the rest of the series I’ve started this year… I don’t own the rest. So I had to take a moment and contemplate whether I should start this one and potentially commit to the whole series, or just grab another book to read - and I have a lot of other options. The good news is this book is very good, and better yet, a Vol 1 Deluxe Edition Hardcover was just released, which includes the first half of the series. And that means a Vol 2 will be released at some point. So I’ll have to add those to my wish list.
Synopsis
For the Rhodes family, losing their son was the most devastating thing that could've ever occurred... but it couldn't prepare them for what happened when he returned.
The story starts off with a boy named Mikey and his dad playing catch in a field. The dad is keeping his son distracted, while mom and his brother set up for his birthday party. The dad throws the ball way into the forest for Mikey to chase after and search for, but then Mikey doesn’t return. Mikey is lost, and the family and authorities have a search and rescue organized, but the boy is never found. A year goes by and the family is torn apart. The dad is accused of the disappearance as no one believes him, but there’s no evidence. The mom files for divorce. Mikey’s brother starts to have problems at school.
But then suddenly a strange man is found, and brought into the station by the police, who might have some details about the disappearance. The man looks like he belongs in a fantasy novel. Long hair, and wearing armour, and when he was picked up, he had a ton of weapons on him. The man claims to be the boy Mikey and tells the story of how he was captured by fairies and brought to another world. The fairies claimed that he was the Chosen One. Their Hero. He was prophesized to defeat the big bad guy, the God King Lore.
Mikey claims that he has defeated the bad guy, and has been allowed to return home to capture some war criminals who passed through - but something isn’t right. We get glimpses of a mysterious evil voice in Mikey’s head, and that the true story is that Mikey lost the war, and the only way to save his world is that he needs to kill the five mages that are actually keeping the rift between worlds intact, and keeping the God King contained in the fantasy world.
Mikey escapes the prison with his brother and father’s help and tracks down one of the mages. Volume 1 ends with Mikey and his brother now tracking the remaining mages, with the evil mysterious voice coercing Mikey’s actions, and his brother unaware. The last page is a cliffhanger, as we see Mikey’s fantasy world princess wife, pregnant, arriving, and trying to search for Mikey.
Thought bubbles
I really liked this first volume. Promptly bring me volume 2!
This first volume is such an easy read. Instantly there’s an interesting hook, and the rest of the book time jumps back and forth between the past and present, never taking a rest.
In the real world we see Mikey, somewhat possessed by the mind powers of the God King, called Nevermind, trying to convince his family who he is, why he’s so much older, and what he needs to do to save this world. But as the reader, we know that something isn’t right, as we see these shadowy powers take over. Mikey invited the God King into his mind at some point and now he is under some kind of spell.
In the fantasy world, we see the perspective of Mikey as a kid, new to this foreign land, and suddenly under attack by the wild creatures. Saved by the fairies and told about his destiny.
The pace of the first volume is frantic and makes for a breathless rush to the end, and there’s no chapter breaks. I do appreciate when collections remove the breaks between issues, where we normally see the cover and next issue, and just merge everything together.
Between the pages
I’ve actually read quite a bit of Joshua Williamson’s work, spanning his DC works and new work within the Energon Universe, but not his older notable works in Image, like Nailbiter or Ghosted. I read his DC Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths event, and Knight Terrors. Also his work on Duke and Cobra Commander, and the new G.I. Joe comic.
Andrei Bressan I only know from Birthright and Destro, but I am excited to see more of his work as I continue reading the Birthright series.
Next read:
Book 36: Night Club Vol 1 (Mark Millar / Juanan Ramirez)
Previous read:
Book 34: Snowfall
Book 33: Fables Vol 1
Book 32: Watchmen
Book 31: Bear Pirate Viking Queen
Book 30: Far Sector