Do I fully understand the plot that's unfolding in Ruule: The Ganglords of Chinatown. Helllllllll, no. There's an accessibility problem at play in this book; the story is somewhat impenetrable. It's a definitely liability, but I have to admit that Ivan Brandon's sparse script is also challenging. There are cultural and spiritual story elements here that are quite alien to me, but they're enticing as well. I want to understand what these characters are going through and what they believe. I'm also enjoying Mike Hawthorne's artwork. He's employing a looser style than usual, and I think he does so to achieve a good effect.
Baal-worshipping bikers have brought anarchy to San Francisco's Chinatown, which has been forgotten by the rest of the world. The people feel powerless to do anything to improve their miserable lives, and included among the hopeless is a young man named Gid. A mysterious figure pays him a visit, though, and inspires him to change... both himself and his home. Gid speaks out against the bikers, finding the strength to oppose them by sacrificing to his new god. It's not long before Gid finds others who share his thirst for freedom.
There's a raw quality to Hawthorne's artwork here, not at all like the slick linework we saw on Queen & Country recently or Three Days in Europe. It seems clear Hawthorne has adapted his style to suit the rough quality of the setting. Mind you, Rick Remender's edgy inks are probably no small factor in the shift as well. I love how hawthorne elongated the mysterious, supernatural figure who visits Gid early on in this issue. It really makes the character seem god-like, driving home why Gid is so awe-struck. Mind you, there's not enough variation in the human character designs. Gid and his family should look alike, yes, but it's far too easy to lose track of the chief protagonist in some scenes. The bikers are unfortunately generic as well; they tend to blend.
It's difficult to delve into this story, into this wild world that serves as the setting. I suspect part of the problem stems from the writer's effort to foster a quiet air of mystery and the supernatural. He conveys those elements successfully, but he sets aside exposition and some key information in order to do so.
What really rescues this issue from being a thoroughly disappointing read is the climactic scene in which the tables are turned against the bikers. Brandon brings a mature intensity to the rebellion -- a theme that serves as the book's greatest strength -- but he balances it with a heartening and cute factor, and that's the involvement of children in the uprising. It also sets up some dark, tragic plot potential for future issues as well.
