REVIEW: ‘The Vigil,’ Issue #1

The Vigil #1 from DC Comics is here and is a hot issue of all Indian protagonists written by the skilled and crafty hand of Detective Comics’ Ram V. This first issue is drawn by Lalit Kumar Sharma, with colors from Rain Beredo, and letters by the talented Dave Sharpe. Previously, The Vigil had taken an interest in Gotham’s secret underground. But in their first issue, V takes us from America to India and introduces readers to what that nation has going on in the metahuman world.

Mr. Lightless. Dodge. Saya. Hold on to those names. You’ll get to know them a tad bit better in this issue, but first up V sets the stage with the concept of high-seas piracy in the Strait of Malacca. This sets the scene for a series of events, the first involves an agent, Ms. Sana, once trained by an elder named Rathi in the field of espionage. V does a good job of making these two read as well-developed in a short span of time. But even better, he sets up this comic from an intelligence stance taking place in India. This puts a different spin on the feel of the series, giving something more like Checkmate than Justice League. Ms. Sana is about to enter the complicated machination that is the Vigil, an enigmatic group that has all sorts of ties to the Indian government and military.

The Vigil #1 is a fascinating window into the superhero genre in another country. Whenever I read a superhero comic, I wonder what other countries are doing about them and how they handle them. The best thing about superhero comics is they have always had such broad appeal. The downside is they’ve often remained very American, with efforts to make characters of other nationalities often stagnate into stereotypes or racism.

I can’t think of a single Indian superhero that’s mildly well-known here in the West. V is filling that gap with an entire cast of characters both human and superhuman, with a very specific methodology and backstory. In this first issue, a single layer is pulled back to allow us to perceive what’s there before The Vigil goes into action. This story pulled me in because not only did I get superheroes, but I got to travel to a new locale with an insider’s view without leaving home.

Sharma’s art is smooth as butter and reminds me of M.D. Bright, who did Icon and Green Lantern back in the 90s. There is a lot of variety in the characters’ faces and the environments. Locales range from grand to gritty, and later there’s a heavy dose of inking. I really got an original Milestone vibe reading and seeing this issue. The same holds for Beredo’s colors, perhaps the most varied I’ve seen in a single issue with no particular hue dominating another. Sharpe never mishandles letters or jumbles them. This is a much-needed skill as V prefers lots of dialogue while never making it seem like overkill.

As a fan of espionage movies and comics, this book hooked me easily. But the creative team opened up a new world to me that I really hope other fans will take a liking to it too. Yes, it can be cozy to stay in one’s lane and stick to what you know. But this corner of the DCU is jam-packed with cool secrets in a hot climate, a cast of die-hard vigilantes, and a litany of questions I need answers to. Do yourself a favor and support this book

The Vigil #1 is available wherever comic books are sold.