'Zalen: What Kills Must Die' Graphic Novel Review
The Rippaverse goes cosmic.
Legendary writer Chuck Dixon and iconic artist Joe Bennett return to the Rippaverse with Zalen: What Kills Must Die. It takes us from Earth into deep space for a cosmic action adventure.
Zalen is an enforcer for the Sentinel Initiative, a group that keeps order in the galaxy. He is joined by the blue-furred tough guy Bong, the elegant star elf Tala, and the space whale S’olos, the latter of whom powers and guides their vessel. Their ship is attacked by a strange creature that psychically connects with Zalen, causing him to want to journey to his home. Will it be the same as when he left it?
Illustrator Bennet and colorist Marcos Martins did the artwork. The way they did the designs was so impressive. Zalen looks cool as he traverses the galaxy. I also liked the way his vessel was designed. It was a callback to larger vessels you see in epic sci-fi tales, but also wholly unique.
The comic does have a few hiccups. There were two printing errors on the two-page spreads, and there was a sentence missing a word. Rippaverse founder Eric July has addressed this, offering fans refunds, a coupon code, and a guarantee that it will be fixed. The indie publisher even noted they will be updating their quality control process going forward.
That raises the question: does this ruin the story or even the rest of the comic? Not at all.
Dixon is a master storyteller, and he does not let us down here. You are pulled into this cosmic adventure as we learn about Zalen and what he calls “the hunt.” He was made in isolation, so despite being an enforcer of justice, he seems to follow his own brand of justice, as he puts it, “what kills must die.” It gave him a unique edge, and you could cheer for him.
This is what Dixon is good at. He takes these high-concept characters and makes them relatable to the reader. It is no different here. Zalen is a spacefaring hero with super strength, flight, and the ability to breathe in space. Yet, you connect with his mission and sentimentality as he carries out his duties. Not to mention, he brings some solid life to the side characters.
Perhaps, we could see a potential crossover with Zalen and the Mike Baron character Nexus? Who knows? Stranger things have happened.
If you are looking for a science fiction and cosmic work of fiction in comic book form, this is the one for you. Despite its technical flaws, it is another victory for the Rippaverse, and I look forward to more.
What do you think? Let me know in the comments below. Tell me if there is a comic book, movie, or anime you would like me to review.