Defiance sets up the idea that when there was a war in heaven and Lucifer and his allies were cast out the place they ended up wasn't empty. Rather hell was already populated, at the time Lord Syrus surrendered his domain to Lucifer. But with time he has been fighting a covert action to reclaim his lands, and with Defiance we are preparing for the escalation of that action with the battle field likely to be the near future earth depicted here. An exit from hell into New York, guarded by agents from both sides - the point through which a secret agent will come through, a messenger and catalyst. The art team for Defiance has produced some striking work and it is that which makes Defiance particularly eye catching. The plot seems reasonable as a base to work from, though in some ways the ideas have certain familiarity. With that the title could go either way, though certainly the writing of the first issue sets it up with enough potential that I am curious enough to see how this first act of the overall three sections develops.

And here's the pitch, reprinted from the back of the first issue:

In the not-so-distant future, Earth and Hell stand on the precipice of war.
The Devil wants to claim the mortal world as his own through his first-born son.

His most trusted ally wants to betray him and reclaim Hell.

The federal government wants to sell the soul of the country in return for power.

A forgotten hell-born sentinel wants to reclaim her glory in battle.

A powerful young woman wants to keep her past the way she likes it... forgotten.

...and the mortal soul who holds the key to everyone's plans just wants some scrambled eggs.

"DEFIANCE: The Messenger" is the first act in a gripping science-horror thriller that follows the last hope for Earth in the face of infernal domination. When conformity only leads to damnation... it's time for DEFIANCE!