ONLY THE SAVAGE ARE LEFT #1 (Dark horse comics)
We find ourselves in a world that has been infected with a disease that creates monsters. But worse than the monsters that the infected become, are the monsters the survivors become. Trying to navigate this new landscape is rough and is definitely not for the weak. That’s why Only The Savage Are Left!
Only The Savage Are Left #1 - Written By Zack Kaplan – Art By Stefano Raffaele - Colors By Thiago Rocha – Letters By Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou - Edited By Spencer Cushing - Published By Dark Horse Comics
Credit: Dark Horse Comics
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
STORY OVERVIEW:
We are introduced to this world where the Teratavirus has infected a lot of people. No One knows how it started or where it came from. All anyone knows is that if you are infected by it, you become a violent deformed monster. As the world comes together to fight this sickness, a cure is discovered. But the cure is more monstrous than even the virus itself. Due to this, the world has lost all order and has been plunged back into a feudal state of sorts. As Oaklynn and her father are on the run from a group of bad people, they come across a fort. As the people from the fort open the gates for them, Oaklynn’s former boyfriend Ryder is one of the people inside. Unfortunately, their happy reunion is short lived as Oaklynn’s dad is sick and needs medicine, and someone needs to go get it.
WRITING:
This first issue sets up the story/series to come and then some. Zack Kaplan once again builds an epic world with endless possibilities. The interesting take on the “zombie apocalypse” type of story is familiar but refreshing at the same time. What sets this story apart from similar stories is that the true monsters are everywhere. The infected are violent but have an affliction, whereas the survivors have embraced this new mad world and revel in it. Hell, even the good people at the fort can come across as monsters as they care more about their safety than others. Kaplan has truly blurred the lines in this story and will more than likely keep blurring them as this series goes on. Kaplan is a master of making the reader ask themselves what they would do if they were in this situation. He has already started to do that and its only issue one!
ARTWORK:
The artwork is fantastic and brings this world gone mad to life. Stefano Raffaele shows the decline of this world as it has become an apocalyptic hellscape. His character designs and way he draws the infected look amazing and show a ton of range. Raffaele doesn’t shy away from the graphic nature of the story but rather embraces it and takes it to the next level throughout the story. Thiago Rocha’s color schemes really make the artwork stand out. The use of yellows and browns gives an apocalyptic feel which ties the artwork into the story impeccably. The amazing artwork matches this story perfectly and really brings this world completely together.
Check Out OUR INTERVIEW WITH ZACK KAPLAN
Final Thoughts:
Only The Savage Are Left #1 kicks off this story in a perfect way. You get enough backstory to know what’s going on, well also getting the table set for the series ahead. The horror and monsters aren’t just on the page, as this story will surely make you question if you would be a monster too. This introspective look into oneself makes this story much more effective. This is a must-have series and should be added to your Pull List ASAP if it isn’t already there. Don’t get left behind and miss out on what promises to be one of the best series of the year.
FINAL GRADE: 10/10
Let me know your thoughts on Only The Savage Are Left #1 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
