From comics legend Garth Ennis (Punisher MAX, Preacher) and acclaimed artist Becky Cloonan (Gotham Academy, Somna) comes a jarring examination of society just before the end with The War #1. Featuring colors by Tamra Bonvillain and lettering from Pat Brosseau, this opening issue follows a group of friends as they discuss and live through reality on the brink of nuclear war. As sharp and intelligent as it is utterly hopeless, yet full of life and struggle thanks to Cloonan and Bonvillain, this is one of the best debut comics I’ve read that I also struggle to recommend.
“In New York City, a group of friends watch their fears become reality as they face the immediate threat of nuclear war. Everyone has a different plan for survival as the end of the world…who will live? Who will die? And will any truly survive THE WAR…”
Writing & Plot
After a decades-long career writing some of the most acclaimed comics series in the medium, Garth Ennis shows that he is still full of creative surprises with his script for The War #1. To many, a comic with this title penned by Ennis would be something a meme at this point – until the moment you started reading. We join a group of friends as they sit in an apartment and discuss the collapse of the world and the beginning of a nuclear war. From here, the discussions and very human reactions to the tension and terror of this daunting reality become increasingly specific and disturbingly relatable. There are discussions on how anyone would survive nuclear holocaust, and what is the fastest way to kill yourself before the bombs strike. It’s brutally sad stuff, but what Ennis does here that makes the journey oddly endearing is how well he writes his cast of characters. This is a diverse cast of people all coping with an unimaginable (yet somehow increasingly more imaginable) terror of incomprehensible scope, and masking their fear and pain in different ways. It’s some of Ennis’s best character writing he’s ever done, and I would implore people who have some *misguided* opinions on Ennis’s work to read this issue. The way that he steadily builds tension and dread throughout the issue is also masterful, something along the lines of a Fincher-esque thriller. The fact that the story is focused just on this one group of people makes the immediacy of what’s happening feel all that much closer and more possible. The War is a phenomenally written comic book, with one of the best scripts Ennis has written in years.
Art Direction
Becky Cloonan and Tamra Bonvillain are an interesting pick for a visual team for a comic like The War #1, but now it’s impossible to imagine this story with any other visual style. Cloonan’s facial animations and character details capture the nuances of each person’s emotions in the story and endears readers to the cast with ease. Her framing allows the conversation sequences that make up much of the issue to flow in a way that captures each characters’ perspective and personality, as well as make the scenes feel genuine. Cloonan’s work is what keeps this story grounded and, in that way, especially painful to experience. Her visuals are elevated by Tamra Bonvillain’s color art, which utilizes lighting and shadow to capture the tone of each panel. The warm glow of a living room light in the opening conversation scene highlights the wear and worry on each person’s face as they discuss the state of the world. In the next scene, a character is bathed in blue light from a cell phone as they read news of devastation. Bonvillain’s work adds a sense of tension and eeriness to the visual presentation here that perfects the book’s atmosphere. The lettering from Pat Brosseau is straightforward, carefully capturing the tone of each sequence while remaining clear and flowing easily through the comic’s hefty dialogue. Overall, The War is off to a phenomenal start in terms of visual presentation.
Verdict
The War #1 is a sharp, human, and emotionally daunting opening chapter. Garth Ennis’s script boils down the discussions of war and politics to something utterly frightening and completely devastating, making for some of his best work in years. The visuals from Becky Cloonan and Tamra Bonvillain are stunning yet grounded, keeping the story focused on character interactions and emotional weight. This is one of the best comics I’ve read this year that is also difficult to recommend due to its tone and the weight of its subject matter. If The War sounds like your kind of read, then be sure to grab it from your local comic shop!
