I've been reading the online incarnation of Rex Mundi, Brother Matthew, for some time, and I've long been awaiting this translation into print. Rex Mundi is a mixture of film noir and gothic design, the X-Files set in the 1930s with a stronger-than-ever Inquisition/Catholic Church setting the tone. It is a beautiful book as well, with detailed and imaginative backgrounds, dark but never oppressive color and storytelling that maintains the tension and suspense at the heart of the book.
I'm a fan of the noir mystery, but Nelson has mixed in supernatural overtones to his pulp style detective story, and the result is a less action-oriented and more haunting style for the story. Saulniere is unlikely to pull out a revolver and chase down his quarry; he's a thinking man's protagonist, and that focus on intellectual rather than physical prowess makes the dark and dangerous road he's walking a little more threatening, and a lot more interesting.
Johnson paints a picture of a Paris that didn't exist, but it's easy to believe that it did. The gothic shapes of the city are part of it, but I'm also drawn to the realistic clothing, lighting and architecture that makes up the building blocks of the setting. The character work is equally stunning, as the shame of the Father or the determined curiosity of Saulniere comes through very clearly, and there's a jaw-dropping double page spread that establishes the grisly fate of one of Saulniere's potential sources of information. Full credit should also go to colorist Jeromy Cox, who manages the balancing act of creating a dark mood without simply making the colors oppressive and burying the art in black ink.
Nelson's script builds tension much the same way filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan does, creating horror less with what he shows and more with the sense of disquiet that pervades the story, as if something horrific could happen at any minute. I also appreciated the relationship that he implies between the two lead characters, almost more like that of a pair of colleagues than that of a pair of friends, but still remarkably deep.
If I have a complaint, it's that this #0 issue is merely a teaser, rather than a complete story, but the creators have promised that the series will continue, either at Image or self-published, and I'm anxious to see what comes next. Promising mystery, magic, a fascinating setting and strong creative talent, Rex Mundi could easily be the next success story for Image.
