DRAGON AGE: BLUE WRAITH #1, out Wednesday, January 15th from Dark Horse is the beginning of a whole new set of adventures. Once again we’ve been transported back to the delightful yet dangerous world that is Dragon Age.
***SPOILER WARNING***
There are a lot of reasons why Dragon Age fans should consider picking up Dragon Age: Blue Wraith #1. For starters; do you remember Fenris from Dragon Age II? Odds are pretty good that you do – he’s about to make his first comic book appearance in these pages.
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It’s also worth mentioning that this is the very same team behind Dragon Age: Knight Errant and Dragon Age: Deception. So if you enjoyed either of those series, this is one to check out (hint: they have some characters in common!).
The Plot
Dragon Age: Blue Wraith #1 starts off strong. Given that this series is only going to be three issues long, that’s probably not too much of a surprise. They only have so much time to tell us this tale. Right away we’re pulled into the action – with Fenris, aka the Blue Wraith, cleaving a bloody path to his goals.
Which sounds about right, when you think about it. This has always been a world full of magic and conflict, and that’s one of the many reasons why fans have been so drawn to it. All of the danger and epic qualities have been perfectly captured here, though the gore always seems to feel more real when it’s on the pages.
Nunzio DeFilippes and Christina Weir are a dynamic writing duo, bringing us a complex plot full of dynamic characters. There’s a unique blend of characters here, as they’ve pulled characters from the games (obviously), as well as creating several of their own.
If you haven’t read the other series they’ve created, you might find yourself a bit confused about some of the events referred to here. But honestly, you can get a lot of information from the context alone, so don’t let that intimidate you away from giving this series a try.
While the majority of this issue has a harsh and heavy tone, there are some delightfully funny moments sprinkled throughout. That is thanks mostly to the character development they’ve invested in thus far.
The Art
Unsurprisingly, Dragon Age: Blue Wraith #1 has some truly stunning artwork. Likewise, one should anticipate plenty of brutal and bloody battle scenes. For this is a series that doesn’t shy away from the more graphic elements that come with fantasy fights.
Fernando Heinz Furukawa was the lead artist for this issue and should get most of the credit for what we see here. At least in regards to the designs for the battles and poses – all of which are epic. Meanwhile, Michael Atiyeh was the colorist and did an exceptional job nailing the tone and colors of the world we know so well. Finally, Nate Piekos of Blambot was the letterer, and you can see their trademark style throughout. It works rather nicely in this particular world.
In Conclusion
Dragon Age: Blue Wraith #1 was an intense and interesting start to a series. Honestly, the only downside we’re seeing to this series thus far is that it’s going to be a short one. But we’ll take what we can get, and enjoy learning a bit more about Fenris and what he’s been up to in the meantime.
