Writer/Artist: Hub
Publisher: Archaia Studios Press
Price: $3.95
The latest comic from the company that brought us the critically acclaimed Mouse Guard is an Old School Samurai/Ronin action adventure. Drawing upon a richly textured mythology and highly detailed world history, creator Hub brings us a vibrant and charming tale of loss, revenge and honor. Master Okko is a troubled demon hunter, a man of honor and incredible skill motivated by money and a thirst for action. Noburo is a deadly and aggressive fighter with a soft side, never seen without his terrifying Oni mask. Together with the spiritual monk Noshin, they are a mercenary band who sail wherever the wind may take them and the payment is plenty. But when the brothel that Noburo is taking rest at is attacked by a hoard of pirates and many of the concubines are kidnapped, the unlikely band are tasked to mount a rescue mission by the little brother of Noburos consort. Though he has no wealth of any kind, he willingly offers his life in servitude for the chance to recover his sister, which combined with Noburos need for revenge against the men who took his woman, is enough to buy the mercenaries for ten days only…
The thing that initially struck me about Okko is its lavish illustration. The art is a sheer joy to behold, putting the half hearted attempts at historical fantasy made by other mainstream publishers to shame. Writer/Artist Hub fills every panel with enough life and verve to sate your appetite for a good long while. Every character is highly detailed, with a striking, memorable appearance; while the locations are stunning and really give a feeling of reality to the world in which the story is set. Nothing seems out of place, from a swathe of angry brigands to a giant mechanical samurai!
The story seems to be a thoughtful, slow-burning tale of action and revenge, and I am grateful for its relaxed pace. Too many comics of this type forget what they are trying to achieve and rush towards an unsatisfying ending. I believe that Okko will become one of the sleeper hits of this year, slowly building up a following through word of mouth and sheer excellence. It would be a great shame if this comic was not given the opportunity to entertain thousands of people.
Adam is the Manager of the Travelling Man Comic Book and Hobby Games Store in Leeds, UK. He’s a self-confessed über-fanboy and loves nothing more than chatting about the obvious superiority of the old-skool JSA over “Those damn glory-hogging kids, the Justice League”. He’s also a massive fan of small press indie comics, and loves reading new and exciting books that haven’t had all of the soul sucked out of them by the mainstream (yet). He also over-uses parentheses and hyphens, but likes the attention it gets him.