‘CROWBOUND #1’ Review: A Hauntingly Gorgeous Fantasy Epic
Crowbound is a must-read new series from the esteemed duo of writer Jeff Lemire and artist Dustin Nguyen, who previously delivered hits such as Descender, Little Monsters and Robin & Batman. Here’s our SPOILER-FREE review.
From acclaimed writer Jeff Lemire and artist Dustin Nguyen, new series Crowbound has drawn a lot of big comparisons. I mean, publisher Image Comics has ambitiously named it a blend of Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale and Cormac McCarthy’s The Road, with echoes of Kill Bill and Pan’s Labyrinth. The praise doesn’t get much bigger than that, and all of those are some of my absolute favorite pieces of media ever, so the comic caught my undivided attention from the get-go. The challenge then was for Lemire and Nguyen to deliver. Naturally, I’d expected it to fall short on the comparisons purely because of my passion towards them, but as I was drawn into Crowbound, I soon realised that this is a story that deserves to be celebrated as it is, not by what it is compared to.
Firstly, I should admit that, while I know Jeff Lemire is one of the most celebrated creators out there, I have only really been exposed to his work on Absolute Flash and Sweet Tooth. Plus, I’m well aware of his previous, much-celebrated collaborations with Dustin Nguyen, not least on Descender. I knew that I was in for exquisite world-building and an excellent, emotional rollercoaster of a story. That was my knowledge heading into Crowbound, and when I laid down issue #1, I was still blown away.
Crowbound is set in a dystopian, Neo-Western world with clear fantastical elements. We follow a young mother, Rose, who works in a place only known as the Factory. This imposing, monolithic structure runs along the coast and divides the world in two. The world is insular… nobody really knows of the horrors that exist outside. All which exist are desolate, dark settlements within the Factory’s shadow. When Rose’s daughter Ava is kidnapped, she risks everything to track her down and save her, putting compliance aside and ardently trying to save Ava by any means.
This is a story about morality at its core, but it’s more than that. It’s about society and humanity, motherhood and bonds. Lemire tackles parenthood and the lengths a parent would go in a similar way to how Cormac McCarthy achieves it in The Road; it’s a grim and terrifying world, but parental bond is unbreakable. So too, the societal, totalitarian aspect does have echoes of The Handmaid’s Tale, but this time it’s fantastical rather than plausible.
The artwork by Nguyen is gorgeous; a perfect blend of atmospheric and emotion that suits the gothic and ethereal tones of the world.
This is a first issue brimming with confidence by two creators who perfectly know each other’s strengths. It demands attention and keeps you hooked from the beginning. I can’t wait to see where it takes us next.
Verdict
Through top-tier world-building, Lemire and Nguyen’s ‘Crowbound #1’ is a hauntingly gorgeous fantasy epic: it’s deeply human, emotional, and evocative.
Pre-order Crowbound #1 here.
