ADVANCED REVIEW: ‘Katabasis’ Issue #1 (2024)

Katabasis #1 is published by BlackBox Comics. It was written by Damien Becton, with art by Rodrigo Rocha, colors by Salvador Pocha, and letters by Dezi Sienty. In the first issue, a woman stuck in Purgatory is sent into Hell to try and rescue a soul and take them to Heaven.

From the start, Katabasis #1 is led by action and adventure. The beginning occurs in the land of the living, as an assassin tries a rescue attempt. The main character, Juniper, breaks into a facility with a secret weapon inside. This first event brilliantly sets up the rest of the issue and overall series.

But it isn’t the only inciting incident. The rest of Katabasis #1 takes place in Purgatory after that rescue attempt, and the rest of the mythology unfolds. The concept of souls and the realms of Heaven and Hell are introduced, which is important for the next part of the story. Juniper has the unique ability to enter Heaven and Hell, opening up the whole afterlife for exploration.

Becton is a bold storyteller, as the main character’s powers emerge from a tragic circumstance. This shows how dark and ruthless things could be before Juniper ventures into Hell. And with another charge under her protection, the danger is paramount. The pacing slows to allow for important exposition in a brand-new IP but rockets up for the action sequences. There are monsters and mysteries with a real heart to them as well. The final page shows that not everything is as it seems.

The characters in the comic are interesting, more than just biblical representations. Headlining the series is Juniper. A lethal assassin, Juniper goes from being a highly skilled human to something completely different, gaining powers that make her much more effective at battling demons. She is straight-talking and gruff, unafraid of being honest with ancient beings or children.

By her side in Purgatory is the angel Zadkiel. Zadkiel is an angel in charge of giving Juniper the job in Hell, the mercenary has to convince him that she’s capable first. But her ability to move between the realms makes her perfect. He talks like the quest giver in an RPG, giving Juniper objectives and missions. While there is a rough exterior to Juniper, there is a fierce protective instinct within her. The two young girls she encounters in Katabasis #1 raise the stakes and serve a much bigger role than just being charged to save.

The art is fantastic, bringing a whole new underworld to life. Juniper has two designs in Katabasis #1. Her first costume as a human is interesting enough, but she looks spectacular in Purgatory. Bearing battle scars, her powers have fully transformed her into a ninja, with spikes on her shoulders, fishnets, and a long flowing cape. The scars around her eyes tell stories without ever saying a word.

She also has shadowy knives that can be thrown. Based on teleportation and shadowy energy, her powers look terrific in this art style. These clouds can either be tiny wisps or solid tendrils and portals. One of the most remarkable details early on is the reflection of Juniper smiling back at herself, crafted out of shadows on the wall. This wasn’t noticed at first, but its subtlety is extraordinary.

Zadkiel is huge and fascinating, looking closer to a demon than an angel. The details are extraordinary, with smirks and snarls on his face and gigantic wings behind him. The monsters are terrific, hideous-looking beasts that evoke a primal fear. Their skulls are exposed, like the bear from Annihilation, and they have the same body shape as The Skull Devil in Kong: Skull Island.

The battles against them are sensational. The fights are fast-paced and brutal, featuring magnificent monster hunting. The brutality is not just reserved for soulless monsters. The opening shows Juniper dealing some ruthless justice on humans who probably deserve it just as much as the demons. The moments when Juniper goes from being on Earth to in Purgatory are spectacularly haunting.

The colors are stunning. The light is warm and fights against the heavy shadows. Juniper’s blue and purple costume fits her design perfectly. Purgatory can look sickly, with a lot of red dust on the ground and an unhealthy sky. One of the little girls has a bright yellow coat, marking her as a target to be eaten and saved simultaneously. The red ground makes the land look dangerous and violent.

Juniper’s powers are marked with a bright core and then purple smoke around it, adding a cool aura to anything involving her. The lettering is brilliant. Juniper has a black and purple word balloon that fits the energy she exudes, and the white text makes it easy to read. Small pieces of black SFX look like they were added as part of the line art. Appearing primarily in the opening scene, the text adds grit to the first examples of the violence.

Katabasis #1 is an action-led biblical tale. Juniper is one of the best new characters of the year. Her design is incredible, and her backstory is fascinating. Every aspect around the mercenary is enthralling and exciting. It isn’t necessarily a religious comic; the three realms are merely playgrounds for creators. The fight scenes are frantic and phenomenal, with entirely unpredictable outcomes. The issue has the air of a video game, and the characters and dialogue often reflect that.

Katabasis #1 is available wherever comics are sold on December 18, 2024.