Review: ‘THE KARMAN BLADE #1’
From the Eisner-Award-winning team behind Little Bird and Precious Metal comes gorgeous new fantasy series The Karman Blade — but is it any good? Here’s some spoiler-free thoughts.
Published by Image Comics, new mythical comic The Karman Blade comes from the esteemed team of Darcy Van Poelgeest and Ian Bertram, the team behind best-selling titles Little Bird and Precious Metal. The comic takes place in a dying world under a tyrannical god — and there’s just one blade capable of delivering freedom.
Framed as a hero’s journey by way of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the debut issue follows a young man on the outskirts of a dying world, who is chosen by a blade forged by the starts to slay the deity Kalu and free the water he hoards in his kingdom. Will he answer the tempting call of the Karman Blade?
The first issue is a quick read, preferring atmosphere over words, but it’s one that you’ll naturally take your time with, reading as you’re transported into the spiritual, mystical world through rich, ethereal and atmospheric artwork. To put it simply, the art making up this comic by Ian Bertram is some of the best I’ve seen this year, sitting right next to my other favorites in Corpse Knight and Universal Monsters: Phantom of the Opera.
While the artwork is hang-on-your-wall good, the actual story in issue #1 I found leaves a little to be desires. Let’s get this clear: it’s not poor by any stretch, setting up a clear monomyth, but the biggest strength lies not in the narrative itself, but in how Darcy Van Poelgeest and Ian Bertram frame and pace the story using the comics medium to its absolute fullness. The captions read as smooth as poetry.
Overall, for fans of myth and legend, The Karman Blade is an absolute must-read. It’s pure comic book escapism, told with some of the best artwork I’ve seen this year.
The Karman Blade #1 releases in stores and online on September 9, 2026.
The Karman Blade #1 debuts September 9, 2026 from Image Comics.
