Silent Devils #1by Barb Lien-CooperReviews may contain information that could be considered 'spoilers'. Readers should proceed at their own risk.
Publisher
Credits Grade: 4 This is a samurai comic (or at least a Swordplay In The Orient one) by a new studio. In a land not too unlike ancient Japan (I think we're going for Japan here instead of China — if I'm wrong about that, I apologize), a small nation is destroyed by violent, unknown forces called Nodori. The only survivor, a swordswoman, tells the news to some emperor-looking guy in authority, who refuses to help because his civilization is based on peace and non-intervention. In the meantime, a swordsman with a scar on his face wanders about, only to have robbers attack him (they fail). Meanwhile, some guy who looks too Fu Manchu-generic-oriental-stereotype-villain for comfort is trying to get power by destroying towns and nations.Silent Devils is a good enough comic. I'm fairly interested in what happens next. It may be too violent for some tastes. The art, especially those heavy inks, is rather alluring, if slightly less than professional. The writing's decent, if a tad underwritten. The dialog isn't stilted and stiff, at least. My one complaint: in the ancient Orient, emperor types did not surround themselves with babes wearing bikinis or less than that. That detail really threw me out of the fictional dream, it was unneeded, and made the work seem slightly less honorable than before I saw the chicks. My advice: rent some Kurosawa samurai flicks (Seven Samurai, Yojimbo, Sanjuro, etc.) and soak up some atmosphere and ideas for the next issue. The comic needs just a little more flair and pseudo-historical accuracy and the films could be of help. If you can't get the films, read as much Usagi Yojimbo as possible, as Stan Sakai is dedicated to telling exciting stories in a way that keeps faith with Japanese history. Written: May 9, 2002
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