Arcbound #1 made a splash when it was first announced, especially for the pedigree it came with. Tom Hardy is no stranger to comic book work, thanks to his roles in the Venom trilogy and The Dark Knight Rises, alongside Scott Snyder (Absolute Batman, American Vampire) and Frank Tieri (The Dark Knight Rises). Marvel vs. Capcom 3), he also played a major creative role. : The fate of two worlds). But one question remains… What exactly is Arcbound?
The general gist of Arcbound is that humanity has traveled to the stars following mysterious events that led Earth to an uninhabitable wasteland. However, even though humans left Earth behind, they brought with them unchecked capitalism called Zynitech. Zainitech is deploying “arbitrators” to conquer the entire world in order to extract a mysterious substance known as chronium. One of these mediators, Kai, is growing disillusioned with his life of violence…and a mysterious message upends everything he believed.
What makes Arcbound #1 truly unique is how the creative elements are handled. Unlike Keanu Reeves’ BRZRKR, Hannah Rose May’s 1600 Pen Exorcism, and David Dastmalchian’s Knights vs. Samurai, Hardy leaves most of the writing to Snyder and Thierry. . He is said to have been responsible for “character development”, presumably meaning he had a rough idea for the series. Still, Hardy is working with some masterclass storytellers, and Cinder and Thierry give Kai plenty of depth. He questions his purpose and clashes with fellow mediator Xander, but ultimately succeeds in connecting with his wife, Kyla. Mind you, this is all within one issue, but it never feels crowded.
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The secret sauce that makes Arcbound #1 pop is Ryan Smallman’s art. Smallman has a cartoonish yet extremely violent style, which shines through in each of his fight scenes, which take up a large portion of the book. Heads explode, bones snap like brittle wood, and someone is torn apart, leaving blood and guts behind. All of them are eye-catching, especially the contrast between Frank William’s bright sun and dark red blood. When all is said and done, Smallman may join Ryan Stegman and Ryan Ottley in a hall of “artists named Ryan who draw eye-catching, ultra-violent cartoons.”
I also really like the personality of Smallman’s characters, especially the killing machine known only as “War.” War’s round frame allows him to move with incredible speed and strength, and his face is completely hidden behind a boxy helmet, allowing him to weave through dozens of victims without saying a word. is becoming even more frightening. I also can’t get over how Smallman made Kai visually resemble Hardy. If Arkbound were to become a movie or animated series, Hardy would definitely bring this character to life.
Arcbound #1 is the first step into a new science fiction world where Tom Hardy enlists an all-star creative team to bring his vision to life. This is also another great example of what happens when celebrity-driven comics put the comic first.
‘Arcbound’ #1 brings a bloody new sci-fi world to life
Arcbound #1
Arcbound #1 is the first step into a new sci-fi universe in which Tom Hardy enlists an all-star creative team to bring his vision to life.
Tom Hardy commissioned an all-star creative team for his latest venture, and it paid off.
Scott Snyder and Frank Tieri deliver a first issue filled with action and character development.
Ryan Smallman brings some very colorful and very violent artwork to the table.
The visually distinctive characters set this work apart from other science fiction stories.
