Savage #1: Primal Rage

After years of waiting, Savage is finally back, the direction is wholly new and just the right mix of action and frantic to pick up the ball and run with it full steam. The new direction and framing of Savage as a social media icon and celebrity is frankly a strange one but somehow it just works. The blatant display of just how commercialism and internet influences shows us that Kevin Sauvage isn’t exactly out of the jungle yet, he’s just in a new one made of steel and concrete. The characterization is on point, the new additions to his supporting casts are just enough without overloading or distraction and the twist ending Bemis drops on us is… nuts, truth be told. The perfect recipe for success on a book with high expectations and some cautious eyes on it.

Nate Stockman and Fiona Farrell absolutely dunk on this art. The stark contrast from the previous volume is quite jarring no two ways about it but once you’re about a page in you couldn’t picture anyone else but this team taking on this challenge. Anyone who’s a fan of books like TMNT, Rick and Morty, or just generally speaking any high energy indie books will fall in love with the art and expertly crafted lettering of Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou. Valiant has dropped quite a few new titles and relaunches the last year or two and Savage #1 ranks among the best of the best of them.