Author: Douglass D Barre
Art: Kanno Kang + Zack Suh
Publisher: Image
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!
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