Edenfrost #1 Review

Edenfrost #1 Review

Mad Cave Studios just got a little frostier as Amit Tishler takes the readership to a frozen village recently plagued by a large rock monster. Mad Cave Studios is mostly known for its high-concept fantasies, dark historical dramas, and twisted horrors that combine non-fiction events of history with fictional plot twists and entertaining storylines.

While Edenfrost #1 doesn’t appear to be as fun or adventurous as the studio’s predecessor titles, it’s definitely bringing its chilling version of mystique and intrigue. As the title suggests, this first issue is off to a cold start, but that only evokes one to believe the payoff will be worth the slow turn of the page.

Alex and his sister Luli flee from a town on fire at the height of a harsh winter. Devastated Luli has to deal with the loss of her parents but doesn’t seem to have the faith that her brother Alex can see them through this life-or-death predicament. How did this happen? Why is the town in flames? Why are they the only ones fleeing a city left in ashes? Luli’s flashbacks reveal soldiers under attack by a mysterious rock monster of mythic proportions.

I really loved the transitions in this book. While it comes off as a slow and steady set-up, the writing is exceptional. The art complements the transitions very well, especially the flashback scene, which is brilliantly designed to be more cinematic than comic. What Mad Cave never fails at is design. They always seem to have their best foot forward and are in tune with the source material to give the reader a sense of wonder while reading.

Eden Frost sets out to capture a sense of what real monsters look like, using Polish mythology to weigh the actions while its readers remain the jury. The antagonistic force here is led by Colonel Krasnov, who investigates the icy rock monsters resurrected from legend, questioning the town’s only survivor, Mr. Melnyk.

Now they’re on the hunt for these kids who destroyed a town. Luli and Alex are off to Kyiv to see if their Uncle Martin can help, but the adventure is currently paused, says the mysterious woman holding the double-barreled shotgun.

This issue comes packed with a special sneak peek preview of David Pepose’s The Devil That Wears My Face, featuring Alex Cormack and Justin Birch, which you can also get now through your local comic store and online. Eden Frost #2 drops in January 2024, so don’t forget to make your pre-orders now.

Don’t forget to support your local comic store or visit your favorite artists and creators at cons. As always, stay geeky, share the network, and don’t forget to catch me on the latest episode of Comics’N’Poptarts.