Crusader #1 Review
Crusader #1 Review
Written & Illustrated by: Matt Emmons
Letters by: Andriy Lukin
Published by: Mad Cave Studios
Crusader brings us a story of a Knight Templar delivering holy justice to heretics. This is the duty of a Knight and this particular Knight seems to be someone who has cleansed the world of many evils by his blade in the name of God. Now, a new test awaits him as he is inexplicably transported to another world during his latest battle.
Matt Emmons worked double duty on this issue as he wrote and provided art for the series. The story doesn’t overcomplicate itself by diving into the muddy waters of being transported into another world.
Instead, Emmons gives us a simplistic entry into the series by introducing us to a few of the characters and delivering morsels of where we will see the Knight’s journey take him. The series teases brutality in both the justice the Knight delivers and the violent world he has fallen into.
The art also is broken down into its simplest form. I would like to give credit to Emmons as being done intentionally. As I flipped through the pages, I found myself feeling as if I had come across old scriptures detailing an adventure long lost to the past and now only living through the testaments of those who experienced it.
These types of comics are something I find myself appreciating as it’s a very digestible entry point to a story that the creators will build upon in every issue without a convoluted premise.
Crusader #1 has plenty to offer to comic readers but it will leave something to be desired for those entering the debut issue hoping for a broad and expansive story between two worlds. Emmons seems to have a story in mind that does not need to be muddied with the saturation of fantasy elements and the inclusion of too many characters.
This is a Knight that finds himself in a situation he doesn’t understand and as the reader, we are given the same feeling that will either fuel your need to know more or put you off.
I for one am invested in this journey and where it goes. With little detail, Emmons finds shining moments to deliver artistic and narrative strikes that land with precision to avoid dragging out this adventure unnecessarily and this is where the issue and series will thrive.
A variety geek who enjoys geeking out with friends over video games, comics, or movies/TV shows. An avid wrestling fan since the days of the Attitude Era and N64’s No Mercy, he now spends much of his time reading and collecting comics. All of my puns are intended.
