Savage Avengers (2019-) #1

Savage Avengers (2019-) #1, the beginning of a Marvel series that is still going today, has a group of characters you wouldn't expect to ever team up. Also titled Chapter One: Once Upon a Time in the City of Sickles, this introductory issue sees Wolverine meeting, fighting, and then teaming up with a time displaced Conan the Barbarian in the Savage Lands. With the two taking on a faction of the Hand that is kidnapping and sacrificing people, mainly warriors, in order to summon a destructive god, they learn that one of Conan's old enemies, Kulan Gath, is also involved and happens to have a symbiote. When Brother Voodoo, an ally of Wolverine, is brought out to be sacrificed, the violent heroes get out of the shadows to confront the cultists. Elsewhere, the Punisher finds the grave of his family having been tampered and left with things originating from the Savage Lands. This comic really does deserve its savage title due to how violent and bloody it is, and considering what characters appear in this it makes sense. Is there a standard hero vs hero fight when Wolverine and Conan first meet, sure, but it is so fun and creative in how they end their fight through their shared love of beer. Writer Gerry Duggan knows that with that title and premise you'd expect something absolutely and extremely grim, edgy, and violent, which you do, but he manages to add good touches of humor, self awareness, and well executed drama that allows for investment in the story. Both the narration and dialogue are done in such a quick and detailed way without needing to over-exposit much of the backstory of certain story aspects. Travis Lanham's work as a letterer best exemplifies how well the dialogue and narration works by their placements in the artwork. Artwork is done through the combination of the penciling, inking, and coloring by Mike Deodato Jr. and Frank Martin Jr.. Its use of dark colors benefits its premise while still having lighter tones so as to easily tell what's in each panel. Well designed characters, detailed backgrounds, and a style change when looking at the distant past all lead to some great artwork. Every once in a while you get a new story that may not seem like much, but Savage Avengers (2019-) #1 is one of those that turns out to be a lot more then what it initially promises. Over all: 100%

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