PopCultHQ received an advance review copy of the FOLKLORDS #1 from BOOM! Studios. Available Wednesday, November 13th, the creative team for this issue features writing from Matt Kindt, art from Matt Smith, colors by Chris O’Halloran, and lettering from Jim Campbell.
Here’s PopCultHQ’s spoiler-free review of…
Folklords #1 (Of 5)
Writer: Matt Kindt
Artist: Matt Smith
Colorist: Chris O’Halloran
Letterer: Jim Campbell
Cover Artists:
Cover A – Matt Smith
Cover B (Variant) – Duncan Fegredo
Cover C-E (Unlocked Retailer Incentives) – Dan Mora
From Narnia to Harry Potter, we’ve seen our hero leave the real world for a fantasy world-but in Ansel’s world of monsters and magic he’s haunted by visions of our world with tailored suits and modern technology!
Ansel embarks on his Quest to find the mysterious Folklords, hoping they can explain his visions…but looking for the Folklords is punishable by death. What will Ansel risk to find out about the world he has never truly belonged in?
PopCultHQ’s Comic Book Review:
FOLKLORDS #1
Who’s up for a quest? After reading FOLKLORDS #1, you can all form in line behind me. This new miniseries from Matt² whisks us away to a fantasy land from a simpler time. One with noble craftsmen, whispering townfolk, and hearty gatherings. A world where the young look forward to their Quest, their journey of self-discovery. But what happens when the road you want to take, you’re compelled to take, is forbidden? This is Ansel’s dilemma and the beginning of his adventure.
FOLKLORDS #1 is a fantastic intro to this charming tale. Solid work for an opening issue, though I know there’s a lot more on the horizon. There were some questions (minor, really) I had as I read along, though I’m sure most will be explained or revealed. This is a debut issue which will pique your curiosity throughout and get you excited to see where this adventure will take you. It has for me.
Writing:
Matt Kindt is a creative genius. Let’s just get that out of the way (for those unaware). It’s always a beautiful thing watching Kindt deliver his narrative and FOLKLORDS highlights that point. He’s created this world of fantasy and wonderment; one with struggle and despair but perfectly balanced with encouragement, hope, and optimism. Matt has done a terrific job in this opening issue at establishing a great foundation for the miniseries: Good character development, a fun premise, and some moments that made me want to know more.
Art:
Illustrator Matt Smith really helps flesh out Kindt’s story with his depictions of the characters and environment. Smith paints a beautiful landscape, a village lush with medieval flair and humble dwellings. He captures that essence of a crowded village pub, which instantly immersed me into the scene as it played out. Matt has certainly established a brilliant look to FOLKLORDS. I cannot wait to see what he has in store for the modern era and how he’ll intertwine the two worlds.
Colors:
If Smith nailed the look of the series, colorist Chris O’Halloran produces the mood and feel of the tale. Chris’ color work instills a lot of life into each character, creature, and even the scenery. The warmth from the wood tones, the brilliant hues of the evening sky, the intimidating crimson cowls of the Librarians, and the cold darkness night brings. For this fantasy adventure, O’Halloran is spot-on with his choices and compliments Smith’s work extremely well.
Letters:
Jim Campbell always makes a vaulable contribution to any title and FOLKLORDS is no exception. Campbell has excellent use of negative space in dialogue balloons, his font choices for captions and sound effects complemented the artwork nicely, plus he’s a crossbar “I” kind of guy, that’s always a win. I also noticed what a boss Jim was at butting balloons. Much needed with the panel layout, smart choice over breaking borders.
FOLKLORDS #1 sets the stage for what’s sure to be an epic adventure. It’s heartwarming, innocent, and enchanting. A rustic, fantasy world filled with an appealing cast of characters – the villagers, gnomes, trolls, even the feared Librarians. But even more inspiring is despite the villagers’ life of subservience, one young man still hopes for more, that there’s something better beyond the horizon. In FOLKLORDS #1, Ansel’s quest begins. An adventure with which you’ll want to tag along.
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