AMERICAN RONIN #1 OF 5 (AWA/Upshot, October 2020) Peter Milligan, writer. ACO, artist, cover artist. David Lorenzo, inker. Dean White, colorist. Sal Cipriano, letterer.
Not a day seems to go by that we don’t hear the word empathy mentioned. The incoming President seemingly has it in abundance. The outgoing President lacks it. Empathy is the buzzword lately. I’m grateful that it still exists, although at times it seems dangerously missing. Thankfully, it’s present in our current comic book reading, especially AMERICAN RONIN.
In this near future world, it’s the pan-global corporations that run the planet. Behemoth companies like Lincoln’s Eye and American Dream are vying for control and are naturally at each other’s throats. They employ independent warriors with special skills to protect their top executives.
“Everyone has a weakness. I should know. . . . . . You could say that weaknesses are my speciality.”
The protagonist of AMERICAN RONIN is one of those warriors who broke free of the system and now works to bring it down. His greatest weapon is . . . . . empathy.
His first target is a elite exec, surrounded by heavy security, with a penchant for sexual domination and submission of young females. The Ronin (unidentified by name so far) uses his opponent’s proclivity to access what he needs to finish the mission.
Despite the head games, there is plenty of action and violence. Chase scenes, ambushes, a break-in, etc. The Ronin has been training in many aspects of offense and defense since the age of six.
As Milligan explains in the afterword to the first issue, “as a writer interested in character and identity this process has engaged me for a long time.” It certainly shows. This is a great example.
RATING SYSTEM
STORY: Peter Milligan has a well-earned reputation for taking a deep dive into the inner psyche of his characters. Whether it’s a tale of crime, horror, supernatural sleuths, or super-hero fare there are few that can compare for his psychological probes. It’s that aspect of his writing that makes this exceptional. 3 POINTS
ART: A complex story requires lots of panels in order to fit within the 20-22 pages allowed. ACO makes the best use of those 7, 9, and 14 panel pages with extreme close-ups that zoom in on the action and/or facial expressions. Very well done. 3 POINTS
COVER: Well-dressed man with sunglasses sitting in an executive chair with a smoking gun. Gets the point across. 2 POINTS
READ AGAIN? Absolutely good for multiple readings. 1 POINT.
RECOMMEND? Yes. Depending on future issues, this could become one of my 2020 favorites. 1 POINT
TOTAL RATING: 10 OUT OF A POSSIBLE 10 POINTS. ABSOLUTE PERFECTION. MUST HAVE.
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