PopCultHQ received a review copy of DEATH STRIKES: The Emperor of Atlantis HC from Dark Horse Comics. released on January 23rd in bookstores & January 24th in comic book shops.
DEATH STRIKES: The Emperor of Atlantis HC
Written by Dave Maass
Art by Patrick Lay
Letters & Book Design by Richard Bruning
Character Design by Ezra Rose
Format: FC, 216 pages; TPB; 8 3/16″ x 10 15/16″
Genre: Crime
Age range: 12+
SRP: $19.99
Bookstore release date: 1/23/24
Comic shop release date: 1/24/24
Mixing dystopian sci-fi, mythic fantasy, and zombie horror, Death Strikes: The Emperor of Atlantis, is a graphic novel based on a suppressed opera written in 1943 by Peter Kien and Viktor Ullmann, two prisoners at the Terezín concentration camp in Czechoslovakia. The authors did not live to see their masterpiece performed.
Set in an alternative universe where Atlantis never sank but instead became a technologically advanced tyranny, the power-mad buffoonish Emperor declares all-out war–everyone against everyone. Death goes on a labor strike, creating a hellscape where everyone fights, but no one dies. Can the spirit of Life stop this terror with the power of love?
Includes designs from the original opera, historical essays, photographs, and more.
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PopCultHQ Spoiler-Free Review:
Art, as defined by Webster’s Dictionary, “is the conscious use of skill and creative imagination especially in the production of aesthetic objects.” What awaits you when you pick up a copy of Death Strikes: The Emperor of Atlantis is a tale that is the personification of that definition. This collaboration is a labor of love made manifest in reality, bound paper for all time. The three things that will stand out when anyone reads this book are its deep and meaningful messages, the delightful artwork, and the clever letters/design.
Writing: Dave Maass has pulled off quite the coup, taking an opera written over eighty years ago and translating it from the stage to the printed page. His handling of a script that turned into something equal parts allegorical indictment of authoritarian regimes, zombie apocalypse, classic Philip K. Dick-esque dystopian sci-fi drama, and other genres is nothing less than a masterstroke. The characters are engaging, the plot riveting, and its core messages about overcoming tyrants and love being as powerful as any weapon of war are brilliant.
Artist: The artwork from Patrick Lay was gorgeous to look at. Considering that the opera he and Dave are drawing their inspiration was deemed a lost work, the artistic interpretation of the world it lays out was utterly fantastic. Every page overflowed with such rich detail across the board. Whether it was in the linework, the characters themselves (even the zombies and soldiers), or the scenery. Whatever well of creative genius Patrick sipped from to pull off this brilliant illustration feat, I hope he continues to drink deep for all future projects.
Letters: Richard Brunning had a lot of fun with the lettering for Death Strikes. He uses a lot of clever designs for the radio messages from the Loudspeaker (who acts as the narrator), particularly with Death, too. One could even say that there is an almost Terry Pratchett-like quality to Death’s speech, as if it were an unintended homage. Everyone familiar with Richard’s previous work will have a grand time appreciating his efforts in this book, and newcomers will be encouraged to go out and read anything else he has been a part of.
Overall Assessment:
Our world is a place of seemingly endless chaos, turmoil, and strife. As Thomas Paine once wrote (and I now paraphrase), these are times that try the soul. And then comes a gentle reminder from history that resistance is not futile and that the power of the creative spirit can overcome adversity. What Dave, Patrick, and Ezra have done here is monumental. They have created a book with a story and message that can provide inspiration and hope and fuel the fires of the next generation of creative minds. I encourage everyone to get a copy, read it, learn from it, and share it with others.
PopCultHQ’s Rating:
5 out of 5 stars
About Dark Horse Comics:
Founded in 1986 by Mike Richardson, Dark Horse Comics is an excellent example of how integrity and innovation can help broaden a unique storytelling medium and transform a company with humble beginnings into an industry giant. Over the years, Dark Horse has published the work of creative legends such as Yoshitaka Amano, Margaret Atwood, Paul Chadwick, Geof Darrow, Will Eisner, Neil Gaiman, Dave Gibbons, Faith Erin Hicks, Kazuo Koike, Matt Kindt, Jeff Lemire, Mike Mignola, Frank Miller, Kentaro Miura, Moebius, Chuck Palahniuk, Wendy Pini, Richard Pini, and Gerard Way. In addition, Dark Horse has a long tradition of establishing exciting new creative talent throughout all of its divisions. The company has also set the industry standard for quality licensed comics, graphic novels, collectibles, and art books, including Stranger Things, Avatar: The Last Airbender, The Legend of Korra, Minecraft, The Legend of Zelda, Super Mario, Dragon Age, James Cameron’s Avatar, Game of Thrones, Mass Effect, StarCraft, The Witcher, and Halo. Today, Dark Horse Comics is one of the world’s leading entertainment publishers.
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