REVIEW: ‘Knight Terrors: Angel Breaker,’ Issue #1

Knight Terrors: Angel Breaker #1 is published by DC Comics, written by Tim Seeley, art by Acky Bright, colors by Brian Reber, and letters by Saida Temofonte. This is part of the Knight Terrors event. Angel Breaker’s heist on a Kobra facility is interrupted as Insomnia brings her into the Dreamscape.

This issue is interesting as it has a story in place before the nightmare-inducing wave hits. Angel Breaker enlists Raptor and is on a plane way before the events of Knight Terrors: First Blood #1. The story, especially when the other side of the coin is introduced, is fascinating without what comes after, but adding in the consequences of a nightmare elevates everything. I will say that Angel Breaker’s original mission is a bit too close to dreams to seem natural, but the rest of Seeley’s initial plot is superb. It is also slightly slow to start, but that tentative pace works brilliantly by the end of the issue. The confusion that comes with the characters not knowing whether they are sleeping or awake is executed perfectly. Seeley’s activation of the horror element of the book is incredible. An explosion rocks the facility to its foundations, and something is unleashed.

The characters and the dialogue within Knight Terrors: Angel Breaker #1 are excellent. All of the characters are lesser known, allowing for a really poignant story that isn’t based on a particular supporting cast. Angel Breaker is the key personality, and she is fantastically written. Intensely arrogant and self-serving, some of her monologues are beautifully bizarre. It crosses between funny and some older mannerisms. 

Then there is Raptor, her unwilling partner in crime for the tie-in. A Nightwing villain who can’t feel pain, he provides the book with angry humor. His gruff retorts, often threats of violence, match a tone set by so many in this book. There are also those within the Kobra facility. One is an adult, meant to be in charge, but is rife with depth and complications that could prove fatal. But the inclusion of the kids in this book makes it interesting. They are soft targets, figures that suddenly make Angel Breaker’s mission tougher in the first place. But then they become something to look after and protect. And if you think Seeley wouldn’t stoop to hurting those children, then think again.

The art is beautiful. Bright has a combination art style, fusing manga and Western influences within one comic. That manga style is a brilliant fit for Angel Breaker, who has one of the greatest designs of any recent character. It can be simultaneously awesome and graceful. The large eyes that Bright implements create specific and dramatic expressions. The same can be said for all the characters, who have unique faces that can suggest their personality before speaking. The incredible designs stretch towards Raptor and the woman who runs the facility, giving the book a set of stunning costumes and characters. When things start to go wrong, the panic and the intensity are ramped up, which is captured perfectly through the artwork. What is then unleashed on those inside the facility is something truly horrific. Bright can use a jump scare in a comic, which is never easy.

The colors are fascinating. They can be powerful and dominant, with a vibrancy that kicks in by the second half of the comic. It is as if everything changes when the nightmare hits and the colors spread further over the page. When something really dramatic happens, the amount of colors included in the panel is reduced, which raises the suspense of the situation. The red and black of Angel Breakers’ costume is excellent, with the red of her visor and sword used for dramatic effect. The lettering is slightly too small, making it harder to read at points.

Knight Terrors: Angel Breaker #1 is fantastic. The story would be amazing even if it weren’t a tie-in to Knight Terrors, but it allows the book to exist and make a fantastic final twist. The transition into horror is seamless but elevates the tension to profound levels. I didn’t really know about any of the characters involved before stepping in, but that made this whole book seem fresh. It’s not bogged down due to having to know a load of history and backstory. It took a couple of pages, but it wasn’t long before the issue hooked me.

Knight Terrors: Angel Breaker #1 is available now wherever comics are sold.