Creative Staff:
Story: Justin Jordan
Art: Tyasseta
Colors: Sarah Stern
Letterer: Rachel Deering
What They Say:
One hundred and fifty years after the end of civilization, everyone has powers. Some big, some small, but you need them just to survive in the new age. Everyone except Kasa Fain. Which is a problem when her little brother, who has the potential to reshape the world, is kidnapped by people who intend to do just that.
It’s Mad Max meets Akira in a genre-mashing, expectation-smashing new hit series from Justin Jordan, creator of Luther Strode, Spread, and Reaver, joined in mayhem by newcomer artist Tysaseta, colorist Sarah Stern, and letterer Rachel Deering.
Collects the original comic series Breaklands #1-#5.
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
Breaklands feels like it takes more inspiration from Mad Max than it does Akira. Justin Jordin and Tyastteta create a splendid dystopian society. At every turn, this dystopian society is flowing with a breath of fresh air. The Mad Max roots are visible but it expands to become its own thing. Society has fallen and living beings have adapted to the new climate. As a result, every living being has their own unique powers to compensate for this unjust world. Some are just attempting to survive day-to-day. Others want everything that remains all to themselves and won’t stop till it’s at their feet. The villain, the Hundred-Year King has a cult who are willing to sacrifice themselves to their lord. He takes one of his cult members and rips out their bones and instantly makes it into a sword.
It would have served the story better if it spent more time on the brother-sister relationship between Kasa Fain and her brother, Adam. It just drops you into the middle of their arguments and expects you to have an understanding of their relationship. Adam has the normal tendencies of a young boy as he wants to explore all that this dystopian world has to offer. Adam goes against his sister’s wishes but gets kidnapped to be sold because of his extraordinary power. It’s clear that Kasa Fain cares about him by her actions but there could have been a moment to kay out their backstory to solidify their roots. Adam gets kidnapped for his rare ability that many predict can either save or further destroy the Earth.
It has some roots with Akira but it is not strongly impacted by that film. Everyone has powers but like when Syndrome from The Incredibles said “When everyone is super, then no one will be.” It’s a good thing that no one feels “super” to have a greater view of the world. They all have their powers but the book starts with most of these characters every on equal ground. Everything changes as the book has the chosen girl traits in Kasa Fain. She has the missing parents, a unique power that puts her leagues above everyone else. She has the ultra-rare ability that cancels out anyone else powers. Even though powers are the main attraction, they wonderfully don’t take a role much later in the book.
The makeshift family of Kasa Fein, Gargarian, Toy, and later Adam has some strong roots but there is much room for improvement. It feels like Toy and especially Gargarian just so conveniently happens to come across Kasa Fein and her brother. There’s bound to be some connection with him and Kasa Fein’s family. Their personality is shining individually but there needs to be more working to form them together.
Tyasseta and Sarah Stern’s cartoon art style just works wonders with the world being created. How many series start with the villain brutally murdering an old man, ripping out his bones, and turning it into a sword? That scene would be horrifying in any matter but the cartoon style allows for it to be depicted with a fun fright. Even with his design that normally should be meant to scream fear is taken with a laugh.
In Summary:
Breaklands has all the right ideas mixing in the crazy antics of Mad Max with this exquisite tale of Kasa Fein. It moves at an incredible pace to set the mood for how this future Earth has become a dumpster for humanity. It has an impressive start as Kasa Fein takes the first steps to discover her place in the universe. It just needs a little more spicy to make Kasa Fein the protagonist that everyone makes her out to be.
Grade: B
Age Rating: 14+
Released By: Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: March 3, 2021
MSRP: $19.99 US / $ 25.99 CAN
