This epic tale from Image Comics is twenty pounds of story in a two-pound sack. But for those of us willing to do a little unpacking, “Sovereign” has plenty to offer.
Written by Chris Roberson
Illustrated by Paul MayburyAn emperor lays dead, with no successor named for his vacated throne. Visitors from a distant land discover that there is more in the world than their philosophies know. And three masked outcasts come bearing word of a coming apocalypse…
The first issue of “Sovereign” was distinguished by its bits-and-pieces storytelling approach. Here, again, we encounter a sprawling fantasy world from three different angles, getting short snippets of three different stories taking place there. It would be one thing if the world-building were done in broad strokes, but Roberson has clearly thought up a long and complex history – some of which is elucidated in the back matter. Working with such small glimpses of the story is amounting to an interesting challenge; we’re encouraged to keep lots of small details in mind as the three stories move forward and (maybe) begin to converge.
It’s an unusual choice for the comic book medium – attempting to evoke the scope of a novel or a long-form TV show in a series of short bursts. It’s a little like gleaning the plot of a novel by reading the descriptions on the coloured plates, and can be as frustrating. Happily, the individual threads of story continue to engage – particularly the journey of the Luminari. Their unique position in society has been made clear, and in this issue, their value to the grieving is made explicit. Meanwhile, Paul Maybury finds ever more intriguing ways to frame them, melding the horrific with the endearing in their portrayal and coming up with an enchantingly weird concluding sequence.
The second part is a little drier, laying out the history of the kings of Khend and allowing Maybury’s art to sprawl across the page in large panels. Here, the sheer capacity of Maybury’s work bowls you over – long views of the palace grounds bustle with movement and detail, while the delicate shifts in colour scheme (assisted by Jordan Gibson and Brad Simpson) help to differentiate eras. A panel depicting a menagerie of creatures is worth returning to – the animals are just different enough from the ones we know to make this world feel alien.
Maybury’s thinner lines and preference for chunky shapes can sometimes result in moments where you don’t know what you’re looking at, and one of these turns up in the last part. Overall, though, the European flavour of the art – the endlessly detailed backgrounds that can leave you looking over a panel for half an hour – serve this portion of the story particularly well, pushing the exotic feel of Ravenstone’s journey. And while Ravenstone himself continues to be something of an enigma, Lady Joslyn’s subtle characterization adds a nice touch of mystery to their interactions.
This world is continuing to grow, taking on new nuances and fleshing out currents of history as we go. It’s refreshing to read a comic whose success relies so much on the reader paying attention, and if “Sovereign” continues to succeed, it’s because it’s an intellectually stimulating read on every level. Roberson’s writing and Maybury’s art conspire to build a world that you have to participate in to understand, and with this second issue, losing yourself in this accomplished a tale continues to be a thrilling prospect.
Final Verdict: 8.5 – Buy
