Ongoing series are rarities with Oni Press, so it's always worth taking notice when the publisher announces a new one. Antony Johnston and Christopher Mitten's first issue of Wasteland is a solidly entertaining first chapter, establishing the premise and the cast of characters while still providing action and a plot. The subject matter is surprising, given that these creators' past efforts have tended to be much more grounded and/or personal in nature; I wouldn't have expected a post-apocalyptic action/adventure book from them. But they succeed with this first chapter, and I'll be interested to sample more.
A century after the Earth was devastated and dried out by a nightmarish apocalypse, what's left of mankind tries to survive in small villages, fending off attacks by creatures known as Wulves and Sand-Eaters. A stranger named Michael wanders into one small outpost, carrying a mysterious device and a letter he can't read. He trades a weapon for supplies, but the village's leader -- a young woman named Abi who's gifted with healing powers -- senses there's something unusual and important about Michael. They soon find themselves allied against a common threat, as a tribe of Sand-Eaters descend upon the vulnerable community.
It's fitting that Ben Templesmith provides the cover art for this title, as Mitten's efforts within evoke an easy comparison to the Fell artist's style. Mitten's designs also put me in mind of Guy (B.P.R.D.) Davis's work, and the angular quality of the figures elicits comparisons to Phil (Green Arrow) Hester. Due to the black-and-white artwork, the bundled-up look of the mysterious rogue hero and my status as a Canadian, I suppose, I initially thought the "wasteland" referred to in the title was a frozen one, but the script quickly clears up the confusion.
One of the most fun aspects of the book is deciphering the zombie-speak of the Sand-Eaters. Every utterance is made up of real worlds, with their sounds elongated with an added reptilian flair. I also enjoyed taking in the shift in language Johnston has crafted to bring the untamed, alien nature of the premise to life. I love the notion that the utopian safe zone about which the characters dream is called "Newbegin." It's not subtle, but these characters' circumstances leave no room for subtlety.
If one wanted a Hollywood-esque summary of this book, it might be The Walking Dead meets 30 Days of Night meets Mad Max. There's a touch of Jedi-like mysticism to be found in a couple of the characters, but for the most part, the focus is on the savage nature of the backdrop from which the series derives its name. Johnston quickly establishes the cultural and political structure of this new world, and while it's understandably more rudimentary than what we see in the real world, there's a certain natural and plausible to this throwback social order. 8/10
