Red Star

Red Star 1-9, 7.5

Red Star Annual 1

Red Star Vol 2 1-5

The Red Star blew my mind when it first came out.  The line art, the 3d models, the coloring - they combined to create a look that I had never seen before.  Even today, it’s still a gorgeous book. Christian Gossett, Paul Schrier, and Snakebite deserve all the credit in the world for what they’ve made here.  

Love the Red Woman design.  She looks amazing on just about every page.

Love the oversize boots on Makita

Nice dynamic posing by Gossett.

The story is pretty cool, too.  Gossett mixes magic with an analog for the Soviet Empire, resulting in a world that’s immersive and enthralling.  He throws out delicious, evocative phrases like “comrade-sorceress,” “skyfurnace,” and “the Battle of Kar Dathra’s Gate.”  Each one is carefully crafted to make me want to know more. His description of Transformation, where a kaster is converted into an energy blast, then reconstituted back into human form is simultaneously awesome and horrifying.

By the end, though, the overwrought narration really wears thin.  I skimmed over huge blocks of text that contributed neither plot nor imagery to the comic.  

So.  Much.  Talking.

A beautiful comic, great story, overwritten to death.  There are worse ways to do it. 

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes for volume 1, no for volume 2

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Pretty good, veering towards nice by volume 2