Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance #1 Review!

Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance is currently streaming on Netflix.  I have started the first few episodes, but not streamed all of them.  Now there is the Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance limited series from Archaia which will run twelve issues!  It is a part of Boom Studios! which published several Dark Crystal series.  The comic book is written by Nicole Adelfinger who has previously co-written Lumberjanes: A Midsumer Night’s Scheme for Boom!  The story is by Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews, the writers and executive producers of the Netflix series.  Matias Basla provides the art.  The first issue features a connective cover by Kelly and Nicole Matthews.  They were the artists on the Power of Dark Crystal series for Boom!  It looks like a crystal fresco that looks like the fresco showing the history in Dark Crystal (1982).  It begins before the Age of Resistance, a prequel, set in Stone-in-the-Wood.  The Gelfling warrior clan.  

It is a walled village nestled in some hills.  A swarm of spider-like Spitters, called Arathim, attack the village.  They seem to merge into some babbling mass which need to feed and reach the “Home Hearth.”  A Gelfling hopes to warn Maudra Vala.  He sees the flames? feflected in his eye with an extreme close-up and this shifts to a spearhead.  The art is slightly confusing with the visuals.  This gets to the Gelfling struggling with the spear of a rival, Ordon, who stands above him.  Ordon says that the training is needed against the Arathim.  They in turn are confronted by a Skeksis.  It is difficult to sort out characters without identifying them.  The Skeksis walks with Ordon and mentions that he should be part of the palace guard.  The guard of the Castle of the Crystal.  Ordon sees the Skeksis to his carriage.  He shifts to the present, again a little confusing, and he rushes over to see a bloody Gelfling.  Ordon reports to Maudra Vala in a rocky noble home.  She knows of the Arathim as The Ascendancy, a merging of the creatures, a royal advisor suggests they use a weapon. 

The advisor sings before a covered pit and a vision of weapon in blue, the Dual Glaive, appears.  He says the weapon is found in a tomb in the caves of Grot.  The strange part is that the advisor has consulted books, but this weapon does not seem tied to The Ascendancy.  Ordon volunteers to find the weapon and the assembly is startled by another volunteer.  This appears to be a female Gelfling, Fara, who just turns up.  Maudra Vala doesn’t want her daughter to risk herself on the quest.  In the morning, Ordon discusses Fara to another Gelfling, Shoni.  It really is confusing at this point.  This is apparently his wife and they are at their home.  Characters are introduced, re-appear, new ones suddenly introduced.   Shoni worries about her husband? going on his quest alone, but he sets off on his quest.  Ordon is setting up his mount, a tall Landstrider, while talking to the advisor? and Maudra Vala.  Ordon rides the Landstrider heading to Grot and as an unexpected passenger.  The world is fascinating, but the art and story is a little confusing.  

Three Shards of the Dark Crystal out of Five!   

#DarkCrystalAgeofResistance, #NicoleAdelfinger, #JeffreyAddiss, #WillMatthews, #MatiasBasla