Losing someone is never an easy thing to cope with. It's a process to accept the fact of the loss and return to normal life. Tragedy is no stranger to comic books. Whether you're talking about crime alley making Batman after the death of his parents or Uncle Ben dying in front of Peter Parker. Tragedy has the potential to make a character more grounded, relatable and can shape who they are. The Wildcard Chronicles: Rude Awakening takes a page out of the greats to dive into tragedy. Not just the loss of a parental figure but a world on the verge of war.
A world broken into factions of Harlem, Magic City (in Miami), and the main city of Tehken City - which explores multiple parts. Chronicles does indeed showcase the art of tragedy with a storyline of an impending war. The genius nature of the storytelling is that it shows what this world on the heels of this war. While also fast forwarding to show how this war has impacted this world and its inhabitants.
In all honesty, it makes the reader curious and wants to keep engaging within this universe. However, that maybe all the books downfall - its vastness. The book, prior and after the story itself, features teases for upcoming series spinning out of this book. I have no problem with that and wouldn't mind engaging more in this universe. There are aspects of the storytelling, however, that feel like certain parts are merely here to sell the next book. Instead of actually making the story richer.
The art of the book is a throwback to the early days of Image Comics & the mid-90s run of Marvel's X-Men. As dark as the world of the book is, the colors do pop in a magnificent way. The storytelling and art make an interesting contrast. The two play beautifully off each other. Proving that just because your storytelling has dark elements, doesn't mean the color palette has to reflect that. It's a bold move that gracefully pays off.
Overall, The Wildcard Chronicles: Rude Awakening #1, creates not just a book but universe. The vastness of the book is a bold and respectable move but does choke out the storytelling in certain aspects. With art that takes you back to the 90s, Chronicles create an environment that thrives. It will indeed be a book worth watching as it grows.
FINAL SCORE: 3/5
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