What if we lived in big robot gods huh? Haha jk…unless. beware spoilers!
Written by Alex PaknadelCover by John Lé and Rosh
Illustrated by John Lé
Colored by Rosh
Lettered by Aditya BidikarNobody knows why the skyscraper-sized mechs known as ‘Giga’ fought their bitter, centuries’ long war. All they know is that when the fighting finally stopped, the dormant Giga became humanity’s new habitat and new gods in one. When disgraced engineer Evan Calhoun finds an apparently murdered Giga, his society and the fascistic tech-centered religious order that controls it are rapidly thrown into chaos.
From writer Alex Paknadel (Friendo, Turncoat, Incursion) and rising star John Le comes another Vault & White Noise partnership about what happens after the mechs stop fighting.
“Giga” #1 from Vault Comics has been a very well-hyped new story and it certainly has a lot going from it. Alex Paknadel’s script takes us into a really imaginative, compelling, and dour setting with extremely distinct characters. Lé and Rosh fill this world in with a huge scope of giant mechs that once were and the world living inside and around them, and Aditya Bidikar’s lettering choices are distinct in a way that proves why his name is a one of note amongst letterers. There’s so much to unpack in “Giga” #1 and this creative team’s debut seems to be a promise of potential in issues to come.
Paknadel’s world-building in this issue is particularly excellent. The world of “Giga”#1 is so singular and brimming with such fascinating concepts that we only see the tip of in this number one. Paknadel sets up a world living in the aftermath of a mech anime (really no other way to describe it) that was so spectacular that society seemingly has reordered itself around these machines centering a fascistic theocracy around them. All of this objectively sounds insane but Paknadel succeeds at presenting it in a weirdly grounded, and grim way. Grim isn’t necessarily meant as a pejorative, which it often can be, but Paknadel is selling a dystopia, despite to larger than life set up of this world. There’s a general grime throughout the setting which is reflected in the “fucks” thrown around by characters as well as the gore, both adding to the sense that this world is “not great”.
With regards to the plot of Paknadel’s script, I would argue might be the weakest element in that there are so many concepts, characters, and elements to this world that it’s hard to feel fully oriented with what is happening in a given scene. There’s a time jump and some late character intros that are a little disorienting. Despite this, Paknadel makes the great choice to tether a majority of the point of view on Evan, the protagonist, which carries us through the time jump, and through some of the more unexplained elements. Unfortunately that anchoring makes the scene in which he doesn’t appear, feel particularly foreign with just how many elements introduced throughout. Overall the plot feels like it’s moving somewhere but it’s not incredibly clear within the first issue. However Paknadel introduces such a bounty of ideas, it will be exciting to see them play out.
John Lé and Rosh’s artwork is a perfect fit for this book. Lé’s command of scale and texture really create such a rich depiction of the dormant mechs at the center of this book. The grime in Paknadel’s script is reinforced by Lé’s placement of graffiti and rust on these giant mechs and Rosh’s muddy, muted colors depicting them really selling the dirty dystopia in the shadow of these giants. Lé’s figures are simple yet carry a line quality that keeps them from being out of place in their more gritty environment. In addition, Lé’s page layouts are not necessarily breaking new ground but clearly tell the story with clever and creative pacing. Aditya Bidikar’s work on letters is very striking in its difference from the standard. Word Balloon tails are dual black and white lines rather than the traditional pointed tail which instantly sets the look of this book apart along. Bidikar’s sound effects also have a grit and line quality that really feels at home withing Lé and Rosh’s artwork. All around the creative team is working together towards a solid and singular vision for the style of this book and it comes across extremely well.
“Giga” #1 is a very promising start for a new setting and story that feels entirely unique. The creative team don’t waste anytime getting into the lore and the ticks of the world and while this will be extremely thrilling and immersive for some, it may be disorienting for others. Artistically, the book works as a cohesive unit with Lé, Bidikar, and Rosh all building on each other’s talents to make a cohesive whole. “Giga” is already a series that has many eyes on it and this debut is full of potential. Hopefully, this becomes one of those series everyone remembers.
Final Verdict: 9 – “Giga” #1 is a strong debut brimming with unique story potential and lore.
