Protector , co-written by Simon Roy and Daniel Bensen, is a sci-fi adventure akin to the likes of Mad Max and Conan the Barbarian. In a post-apocalyptic world that relies on orange tones and is influenced by mythology, Protector is set in the far-future of North America. Various tribes live throughout the continent but the Hudsoni reign supreme, conquering other tribes and enslaving them. However, their prosperous times may soon come to an end when a Yanqui priestess slave stumbles upon a demon: a mecha-like creature. When the Devas, Hudsoni’s gods, warn of the demon, Hudsoni war chief First Knife convinces the Devas he will deal with the threat personally.
This comic makes no attempt at spoon feeding its audience. On one hand, it’s very refreshing. On the other, it makes it difficult to understand the world the creators are trying to build. There is a bit of an imbalance in that regard. What’s more, in the first two issues Protector appears to be focusing more on plot rather than character. With these two problems combined, it can be very off-putting at first. Additionally, because there is a focus on plot, readers may find it hard to empathize with any of the characters.
However, with all that being said, the world is very interesting both visually and mechanically. This world draws on various Native American cultures and that is the comic’s biggest strength. There is a section at the end of issue #1 that breaks down the various tribes in this world and those tribes promise an even more diverse cast; but, for now, seeing the Yanqui and Hudsoni take center stage is more than we could ask for.
As expected from a publisher like Image Comics, the artwork is top notch. Artyom Trakhanov and Jason Wordie‘s colour palette, which we briefly mentioned earlier, adds to the post-apocalyptic feel to the piece. Character designs are very distinct and unique to one another. There is no confusing one major character for another. First Knife’s design is especially unique. As a war chief, audiences expect someone younger and perhaps more brash yet First Knife radiates wisdom and determination. There is also something to be said about the Demon’s design. While initially appearing to be cold, stoic with very little room for expression, Artyom Trakhanov manages to create an impressive amount of life into the character that compliments his modern speech very well.
Protector is a series that appears to be slow going at first but has plenty of room to impress us later down the road. With its diverse characters and interesting world, it’s enough to keep us eager for more and see just where this post-apocalyptic sci-fi story might take us.
You can purchase the first issue of Protector through Image Comics! Have you had a chance to read this sci-fi adventure? Let us know in the comments below or send us your thoughts via Twitter!