REVIEW: ‘Rogue: Savage Land’ Issue 1

Rogue: The Savage Land Issue 1 is published by Marvel Comics. Written by Tim Seeley, art by Zulema Scotto Lavina, colors by Rachelle Rosenberg and letters by Ariana Maher.

Taking palace in the past, Rogue finds herself stuck in the Savage Land with failing superpowers. But she isn’t as alone as she thinks.

This issue explores a secret piece of X-Men history. Taking place after Uncanny X-Men #247 (1989), this solo adventure is one of survival. Seeley seamlessly transitions from what the raiders know into something unknown. The brilliantly splits the story. The first half is one of solitude, as a lonely Rogue fights for her life in the most dangerous location on earth. For the uninitiated, the Savage Land is a prehistoric island where the dinosaurs never died out, so they are roaming free.

The pacing is smooth and calm despite the carnivorous creatures and inhospitable surroundings. But then the reason why Rogue ends up in the Savage Land in the first place finds her again. This turns Rogue: Savage Land Issue 1 into a classic X-Men tale. Other figures join her, and she is drawn to action.

The comic takes the reader by the hand and drags them through this untamed land. Any unfamiliar elements are neatly and quickly explained. It is entertaining to see what parts of the Marvel Universe have differed in the years since the original story was told and which parts remain largely unchanged.

The first half of the issue is an excellent exploration of a similar character, taking Rogue away from the main team. Her mutant ability, stealing memories, life force and powers of those she touches, has led her to live a solitary life. She may not be able to have skin-to-skin contact with anyone, but she is still a creature that needs company. The narration around her loneliness and how she gets around it is terrific. It dips into so many aspects of Rogue’s personality at the same time. Seeley highlights just how funny she can be.

The narration shifts beautifully to fit the scenario. She can enjoy or despise her time in the jungle, and the tone will shift in the writing. But as the comic changes to include more characters, it becomes clear that the narration has been Rogue regaling her adventure to someone else. Even though the cast is expanded slightly, the book still feels like Rogue’s story.

The art is more than just designed for thirst. Early in the comic, there are definitely attempts to showcase Rogue’s beauty. When she emerges in the Savage Land, she isn’t wearing much to begin with. Those clothes then become torn and repurposed, displaying a lot of skin. There are story-based reasons why this happened, and Lavina has more intentions at heart. The costumes, torn and shredded, could be references to characters like Shanna the She-Devil and Raquel Welch in One Million Years B.C.

At the beginning of the book, Rogue looks badass and tough. She learns how to survive quickly, running and fighting alongside her reptilian neighbors. But later, those walls break down, and she is shown to be much more vulnerable. When she is huddled into a dark cave on her own, the bare midriff and muscles are not the most important part of the panel. The faces Lavina draws are gorgeously expressive, controlling the emotion of the scenes.

The colors are terrific. No matter how dark it gets or how much of her clothes get ripped off, Rogue’s iconic shades remain clear throughout the issue. The green and yellow costume is thrown together in a moment of panic, yet still looks fitting and stylish. The top of Rogue’s hair is almost entirely white, accentuating perhaps her trademark feature. The lettering is clear and easy to read, with the SFX pivotal for creating a noisy jungle filled with strange sounds and creatures.

This first issue fills a gap with an energetic adventure. The art and writing combine to make an incredible comic that celebrates Rogue as a character. It has fun tearing at her clothes but has incredible depth in exploring her personality and breaking her down. The reader is taken by the hand into the jungle, delighting in the ridiculous spectacle.

In Rogue: The Savage Land Issue 1, anything can happen. Creatures, dinosaurs, technology and supervillains are all possible. It’s a cacophony of chaos that is far from civilisation. The second half of the book will take those possibilities even further.

Rogue: Savage Land Issue 1 is available where comics are sold.