No Gods, No Masters #1
Creative Team
writer: JULIO ANTA
artist: JACOBY SALCEDO
colorist: FRANCESCO SEGALA
letterer: BECCA CAREY
publisher: BOOM! STUDIOS
What happens when you escape a disaster in Venezuela, find refuge in the Big Apple, only for a bigger kaiju to wreak havoc in your new home?
Writer Julio Anta, artist Jacoby Salcedo, and colorist Francesco Segala set this bleak stage for their protagonist Felipe and his friends Malik and Jeanie. They must survive and reach an evacuation ferry. Felipe, however, has another important objective: to reunite with his mother.
Dealing with giant monsters is no easy feat, and the trio is staying alive. In the introductory pages, the creators set the panels neatly, so reading through them is a seamless endeavor. Furthermore, the audience can better appreciate the linework. It’s bold, dynamic, and sometimes jagged, and the ink and color splatters better emphasize the violence and chaos.
Salcedo was efficient in capturing the energy and tension of the opening scene but knows how to soften his lines later when things are tranquil in the flashback. As for Segala, his attention to detail shines through, because his color palettes set the tones of each story beat. Reds and oranges appear when there is immediate danger within the urban landscape. Blue hues are present during calm moments and quiet settings, and yellows tend to show wherever and whenever conflict occurs. Thus, both artist and colorist compliment the narrative.
Anta brings everything together with his writing style. In an apocalyptic scenario, the characters are the linchpin of this fictional tale.
It’s essential for the audience to root for Felipe, Malik, and Jeanie against their gargantuan enemies, so the writer establishes the characters as quickly as possible. Felipe is a Venezuelan immigrant trying to make ends meet with his mother. He clearly has trauma from past events and does not lower his guard easily. He plays baseball, a parallel he shares with Malik. Jeanie, a foster child, tries to keep the peace between his friends. Their weapons define them too. Felipe has a machete, a symbol of resistance in many Latin-American cultures. Malik has a baseball bat due to his love for the game. Jeanie has a kitchen knife, which could allude to her humble abode. Anta provides all this information and does not clutter the pages, which is worthy of praise.
Final Verdict
No Gods, No Masters #1 prepares its readers for a fast-paced ride filled with action, mystery, and familial ties. Kaiju fans will be hard pressed to find another comic with an interesting premise, and anyone itching for a survival story won’t want to miss this issue. Pick it up at your local comic shop!
| Criteria | Score |
|---|---|
| Writing | 8 |
| Story/Plot | 8 |
| Art/Line Work | 9 |
| Colors | 9 |
| Final Score | 8.5/10 |