Graphic Novel Reviews: Seven to Eternity, Plunge, The Sacrificers
In this round of graphic novel reviews, we’ll take a look at two series (one finished and one still ongoing) by popular comic scribe Rick Remender that fall into the science fiction and fantasy genres, as well as a horror graphic novel written by Joe Hill.
Seven to Eternity Compendium
By Rick Remender and Jerome Opena
The Seven to Eternity Compendium, written by Rick Remender and illustrated primarily by Jerome Opena, collects all 17 issues of the well-received (and now completed) series that came out over several years. Unlike some compendiums I’ve purchased in the past, this one wasn’t so large that it was difficult to read.
As for the story itself, this fantasy/science fiction series follows a dying man from a disgraced family who bands together with a group of diverse magical warriors in order to take down a tyrant. This tyrant, called the God of Whispers, has the power that if he makes a bargain with someone (which he will then fulfill), that individual then gives him the ability to see through their eyes. With this ability, and through manipulation, he’s basically been able to gain control over the entire land.
I definitely enjoy the visuals of the book.
Those trying to stop the God of Whispers all have unique powers of their own that feel different from the common superpowers frequently found in comic books. Remender has done an excellent job creating a very full and complex fantasy world. But maybe he’s done too good of a job because there’s a lot going on here, and the story has some pacing issues as a result.
In fact, the entire series is only 17 issues, but this could easily be a 50-issue series. If that were the case, the story would have more time to breath. As it is, characters, places, and the universe Remender has constructed are interesting, but we don’t really delve deeply into any of it – it all feels too fast.
As for Opena’s art, it’s both detailed and just enjoyable to look it. I definitely think it’s a strength of the book. When taken as a whole compendium, I think Seven to Eternity is worth checking out, but that it falls firmly in the good, but not great category of graphic novels for me.
Grade: 7.5/10
Plunge
By Joe Hill and Stuart Immonen
Plunge is a 2020 graphic novel that collects all six issues of the stand-alone horror comic. The book was published by DC Comics’ Black Label imprint, which focuses on titles for more mature readers, and centers on a salvage crew hired to investigate a ship that’s mysteriously been found after vanishing in the Arctic Circle decades ago.
The book is clearly going for an isolated horror story, with writer Joe Hill saying he was inspired by the movie The Thing. Unfortunately, unlike The Thing, which is overall good, Plunge is overall not-so-good.
Plunge contains many of the basic cliché horror elements that come to mind with this sort of story. There are mysterious numbers, giant bug creatures, and creepy ghost people. Our heroes are led by a burly manly-man captain and an attractive woman expert diver. There’s not too much original here.
I wouldn’t mind the lack of originality if the book was actually fun to read. There’s just way too much dialogue, especially in the early parts of the graphic novel. If you’re a big fan of characters explaining lots of science mumbo jumbo, you’ll appreciate it, but I was waiting for the action to get going.
Hill is also a huge fan of witty writing. All of his characters have to be super clever and, in a horror comic like this, it doesn’t work. People just do not talk like they do here. Our crew is supposed to be in these life and death situation with monsters abound and they’re making quip after quip. Horror and jokes can work together, but the book is definitely not presented as a horror-comedy type of story.
Stuart Immonen’s art is probably the best aspect of Plunge. I enjoy his style, and he’s able to capture the mood for a horror book like this one. Still, that’s not enough to save Plunge. Though it’s still readable, and you can get through it in a single sitting, it’s a miss from Hill.
Grade: 4/10
The Sacrificers Vol. 1 and Vol. 2
By Rick Remender and Max Fiumara
The Sacrificers is an ongoing fantasy/science fiction comic book. With the third volume in the series due to come out soon, I decided to read the first two graphic novels. While I enjoyed The Sacrificers overall, I definitely liked the first graphic novel, which contains issues 1 through 6, a good bit more than the second, which compiles issues 7 through 11.
As he did with Seven to Eternity, writer Rick Remender does a fantastic job creating a unique, full world that feels worth exploring. We follow two main stories in the first volume, one centering on the mischievous daughter of the Sun and Moon gods named Soluna, and a second story following one of the titular “sacrficers.” Sacrificers refers to the first-born child of every family who must be offered up to the gods, though what actually happens to these sacrificers is a mystery at the start of the book.
The first graphic novel moves along at a good pace, and though the characters aren’t particularly unique, the story is engaging. I also thoroughly enjoy the artwork by Max Fiumara, and it adds to the appeal of the book.
Volume 2 of the story is a bit of a letdown. It isn’t necessarily bad; it’s just not quite up to the level of that first graphic novel. These five issues don’t flow together as nicely – it almost feels like five filler issues before Remender gets to a new, more connected storyline. Each issue also features a lot of thinking bubbles which slows down the pacing after a while.
Despite not loving the second volume, I’d still recommend The Sacrificers, and I’ll still be picking up the next graphic novel in the series when it comes out.
Grade: 7/10