I picked this one up largely because it was solicited as "by the same people who brought you Defiance!" I'm honestly not sure what that means now, because I don't recognize any of the names, and rather than a computer-assisted/painted science-fiction tale, I found instead a colorful translated Korean manga. Which was somewhat entertaining, but certainly not what I was expecting. The book seems to be a mixture of modern and fantasy genres, with a translation that takes it in something of an urban crime genre and a general approach that seems more akin to martial arts cinema of the modern and 70s era. The result is a tone that is sometimes a bit discordant, but certainly entertaining, and while I found the book a little choppy and hard to follow, I would recommend this to those seeking out something else like Infinite Kung Fu or Storm Riders.
So basically, as far as I understand it, a prostitute has escaped her cruel master and been rescued by someone who may be equally cruel, a great warrior who is naive in the way of the world has come to the city for unknown reasons, and a peddler and his child have become involved on the periphery as well. The basics of the concept seem easy to grasp, but some similar looking characters and a somewhat confusing style that has weak transitions makes the story hard to follow and the character arcs even harder.
While I do have my problems with the storytelling, though, the artwork is certainly impressive. Lim's work, as colored by Gecko Studios, has a detailed look to it, with plenty of attention paid to unusual background details like a train with a human face or a random talking cat. Gecko's colors have the effect of looking like watercolors, giving the whole thing a washed-out old-time feel akin to what was done with Marvel Comics' Origin. And while I sometimes had trouble following the sequences, when Lim delivers an action scene, he really goes to town. The flashing blades, fast movement and sudden wounds and blood are all right there on the page, as quick cut and sharp as the films of John Woo and Tsui Hark.
The story itself is a manga staple, that of the wandering warrior and the lost girl, but it has been changed somewhat by the translation and presumably addition of dialogue. The phrases are peppered with street slang and modern idioms, and references to L'il Kim, Big Gulps and brands of soda make the book stand out as somewhat Americanized. For some reason, this gives the whole thing a flavor of a 70s film, where American tastes were superimposed on overseas animation or film, and while it is sometimes jarring, it also works to give the whole thing a unique flavor.
Overall, The Sect is probably not my kind of thing. The action sequences are good, but the plot so far seems a bit weak, and the characters aren't sharply defined, even in this oversized issue with plenty of room. However, for those who are seeking a good action comic or something with a particular flavor, or just something a little different, The Sect is worth a look. And at 50 full-color pages for $2.99, the price is really hard to beat.
