"This first chapter in a graphic novel series takes the essence of the bible story and gives it a sci-fi twist."
If the Bible story took place in the DC universe, its beginning might look something like Once & for All, Chapter 1. This first chapter in a graphic novel series takes the essence of the bible story and gives it a sci-fi twist. The world is created by “All” to be in harmony, but some didn’t want to be in harmony and so were cut off from the wider divinity around them, creating a dark world of forsaken people. Within that world are the Heroes, an elite, selective police force that use their strength and the simulated powers to rule with an iron fist. In this first chapter we are also briefly introduced to a space Jesus “anti-hero” seemingly with actual superpowers and a positive message of love and harmony. This Chapter 1 of Once & for All is a solid introduction into the world, we get information about how the heroes are forged, and the groundwork is laid for multiple plot threads and this mysterious new character is introduced. It’s an interesting play on the words to have the “heroes” in this book a corruption of the traditional image and seemingly the bad guys, it adds even more darkness into the world. As this is only the beginning of the story there are a lot of loose threads that I’d expect to be developed in later instalments. As this is a graphic novel there’s obviously plenty of artwork to pore over too, the images are evocative and Daniel Reed is able to convey the emotion of the scene even in the smaller frames. I liked the inclusion of the little details, like the hexagonal, hive-like design motifs on the uniform and in the environment of the bug-ranked heroes. The simplified colour palette and use of contrasting colours are also really good devices for drawing your attention to the action in the larger frames as you read.
Charlotte Walker, A LoveReading Ambassador
| Primary Genre | Indie Author Books |
| Recommendations: |