Review #3: Realm Knights 1 of 4

Realm Knights

STORY: JOE BRUSHA & PAT SHAND

WRITER:  PAT SHAND

PENCILS:  BUTCH MAPAa

COLORS: KEVIN VOLO

LETTERS: JIM CAMPBELL

EDITOR: MATT ROGERS

“The Realm Knights fought together once before, but that was in a different world. Everything changed when the Being unleashed an army of monsters onto the Earth, killed Zeus’s daughter and waged a war that forever changed the Nexus.

Zeus, Neptune, and many other gods have left Earth for the realm of Myst, leaving humanity in a vulnerable state. The United States government has no choice but to bring the Realm Knights back together… and as a new threat rises before them, the Knights are once again tasked with saving humanity from an unimaginable threat.”

These are the opening words Zenescope’s new team books Real Knights. In the vein of Justice League or The Avengers Realm Knights is a rag tag team of made up of some of Zenescope’s established heavy hitters. With the earth being faced with an insurmountable threat a group of heroes is called together to save it.

But of course in the world of Zenscope’s Grim Fairy tales the threat is not an alien invasion or an all powerful being from the far reaches of the universe but the threat of an ancient Titan. The Titans were the old gods of old before the time of Zeus and Hades. An ancient power that now threatens the earth and only the Realm Knights has the hopes of stopping. The Titan in question Chronus, and he is after he Scythes. Taken from him countless generations ago, if returned to him he will become unstable and have power over all of our realm. And the Realm Knights have been brought together for the soul purpose of stopping him.

Brought together by a government agency alla the Ultimates, The Realm Knights are made up of Sela Mathers the fairy tale, Red the protector, Hook the warrior, Liesl Van Helsing the hunter and Robyn Hood the legend. Being a fan of team books I am excited for this title. When written well a good team book can build off the strengths and weakness of characters. Playing of character differences can also add great drama into a story. Realm Knights does not disappoint in this respect.

Being the first issue in a miniseries we deal mainly with the set up of the team and an introducing the characters to readers who may not be familiar with them.  Joe Brusha and Pat Shand do a great job of establishing each characters role within the team. Robyn Hood is being set up as the loose cannon not everyone can trust. Where Van Helsing is being presented as the brains of the team. Red is the determined straight shooter and tension is quickly builds between Red and Robyn with in the first issue.

Along with all the other character that seem to be well defined in the premier issue the reader is quickly consumed by the world of Realm Knights and the story that is developing.

The art is extremely captivating and visual stunning. Butch Mapa does a commanding job of delivering frightening images on one page and high paced action on the next. And on a team made up of attractive female characters, Mapa’s female characters drip with the sexuality you have come to expect from a Zenescope title.

The art of the book sucks you and the story keeps you reading. I definitely cannot wait to see how this one turns out. Pick up your copy at the local comic shop or buy it here: http://shop.zenescope.com/gft-realm-knights/gft-realm-knights-1-cover-b/

I give Real Knights 8 out of 10 capes

Don’t forget to check out Zenescope here:  http://www.zenescope.com/