With the first
issue of Shinku, Ron Marz and Lee Moder introduce us to a different
kind of samurai. With an arsenal that would make the Punisher
thrilled, this fierce lady wages a one-woman war with the undead.
The opening
sequence of "Throne of Blood, Part One" could very well be the start
of a blockbuster action film. Indeed, as Shinku drives off on her
motorcycle, I imagined a killer soundtrack kicking in.
The story
deals mostly with Shinku crossing paths with a young American, named
Davis, who's in Tokyo for a business trip. Through Davis, we are
introduced to the warrior and her world gradually. At last when she
reveals to him the back-story that drives her and her mission, it
feels natural and not as forced as it could have been. We are given
just enough history without losing the urgency of the current story.
Davis also has
another purpose in the tale as he serves as an anchor for the
readers. He appears flawed and insecure with a personality that
contrasts sharply with Shinku's cold lack of emotion. There are a
few funny moments that help keep the story from becoming as dreary
as it might have been, had he not been there to play off of her
matter-of-fact attitude. Essentially, he's like a frame that gives
the context through which she's viewed.
No stranger to
strong female leads, Marz has written Witchblade for quite some time
now and is on the roster for DC's relaunch as the writer for Voodoo.
After reading this first issue, I can safely say that Shinku would
definitely rank up there with those women as an equally compelling
character.
Moder
complements Marz in the comic very well. He does a fantastic job of
making the character's expressions tell just as much as the words
they speak. He has a fitting style for the book, dynamic and full of
energy. Davis and Shinku both are well designed and you can tell a
lot about each of them just by the visuals.
Speaking of
the visuals, this book is rated Mature for a reason. Generally, I'm
turned off by mindless violence and nudity that's done just for the
sake of doing. There's plenty of both in this comic but the writing
justifies their use to the point that I don't mind as much.
Shinku #1 will
undoubtedly appeal to fans of Blade and Kill Bill. If you're looking
for a nice action-adventure comic to give you a reason to eat
popcorn while you read, give this one a try. Oh, and I recommend
listening to the Akira soundtrack alongside it.
