NO GODS, NO MASTERS #1 (BOOM! STUDIOS)
Three New York City teens are faced with a challenge they are not ready for.
Felipe, Malik and Jeanie have enough to deal with high school life and paying bills. There’s constant pressure to navigate the treacherous landscape as is.
Now, the trio is faced with surviving an attack on the Big Apple the like the world has never seen before!
NO GODS, NO MASTERS #1 by Julio Anta, Jacoby Salcedo, Francesco Segala, Agnese Pozza & Becca Carey (BOOM! STUDIOS) launches into a Kaiju story unlike anything you’re read before!
Let’s take a closer look at this debut chapter.
NO GODS, NO MASTERS #1 by Julio Anta, Jacoby Salcedo, Francesco Segala, Agnese Pozza & Becca Carey (BOOM! STUDIOS)
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
Anta gives this Kaiju something extra in the form of three teens with unique drives behind them. The opening pages showcase them at work taking down a monster. It is a far cry form what transpires a few days prior. Readers see two of them fighting over a snarky comment. This allows Felipe’s story to gain more attention as he’s scolded in the principal’s office. Once here, the story shifts around his personal journey of survival as he lays out the path from being part of the Migrant Program from Venezuela to E-Bike delivery work. Luck would see him dodge a more serious charge at school. It wouldn’t take long for it to run out.
The reconciliation between friends is brief as fate rears its wings into their lives. In one page, the entire story flips on a dime. Readers watch as the petty arguments fail to compare to the apocalyptic event happening right outside. Felipe’s worry leads a wave of emotions in the writing. Anta teases this feeling to a previous time. By planting the seeds early, the audience is compelled by Felipe’s push to move forward. This cements the full circle moment to close the chapter out. It is a perfect walk off for an adventure just starting.
Salcedo sets a high pace early with the starting panels. Using Jeanie to set a trap leads to a strong full page image. It leaves a violent statement to pivot into a much calmer and complex time. Felipe’s chat with the principal conveys the frustration building inside a young man fighting uphill against the world. His incident with deliveries covers much ground as it steers him into a fateful meeting. Malik and Felipe’s talk is familiar in delivery. It goes the way of most high school drama. This also becomes the last “normal” moment in the issue.
A bold full image singlehandedly changes everything. Saying it’s game-changing is an understatement. Using broken glass as panels is a nice touch to present the danger up close and personal. Panels become more frantic as the reality starts sinking in. Felipe’s expressions tell a story all their own. A phenomenal two page spread shows the views of the world via cell phone screens. The mood breaks to show the impact on Felipe especially via full shot. It grounds the gravity of the situation for the readers to head into the closing pages. The imagery comes back to the opening with a bit more edge to them. One last panel provides a loud final look at what world these teens are about to brave. Impressive work.
FINAL GRADE: 9.5
Three teen lives’ head into a dangerous world with life as they know it gone forever. Anta stages a terrifying coming of age with much heart behind it. Salcedo and the team weave in the monstrous new stat quo with exceptional visuals. An exhilarating thrill-ride that redefines the Kaiju storytelling genre.
Let me know your thoughts on NO GODS, NO MASTERS #1 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
