You won’t find any gold teeth or Grey Goose in “The Royals: Masters of War” #1, but you will find fantastic art and an engaging tale of great power begetting great responsibility
Also, I’m sad that I used up all my British pop culture references in the “Revolutionary War Alpha” review.
Written by Rob Williams
Illustrated by Simon ColebyThe year is 1940. As the Blitz destroys London and kills thousands, the Royal Family looks on. But in this world, the only people with special abilities are Royalty, and the purer the bloodline, the greater their abilities. So why don’t they stop the carnage with their powers? A truce between the Earth’s nobles has kept them out of our wars—until now. When England’s Prince Henry can take no more and intervenes, will it stop the planet’s suffering or take it to another level?
The year is 1940. As the Blitz destroys London and kills thousands, the Royal Family looks on. But in this world, the only people with special abilities are Royalty, and the purer the bloodline, the greater their abilities. So why don’t they stop the carnage with their powers? A truce between the Earth’s nobles has kept them out of our wars—until now. When England’s Prince Henry can take no more and intervenes, will it stop the planet’s suffering or take it to another level?
Writer Rob Williams (Judge Dredd: Trifecta, Low Life, ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN and Daken) and artist Simon Coleby (The Authority, Judge Dredd: Year One and Trifecta) team up to bring you this epic of World War proportions. History will be transformed in a way you’ve never seen before.
“The Royals” #1, at a quick glance feels eerily familiar. Centered on super powered beings with the ability to alter societies’ courses at a whim and featuring a fair amount of spectacle and bloodshed, the book bears a mild resemblance to Warren Ellis’ “Authority.” Simon Coleby’s art even bears a passing resemblance to Bryan Hitch’s trademark widescreen layouts (the artist actually did a lengthy stint on the last volume of “The Authority”). It may seem like a long lost Wildstorm title, released years after it’s time, but Williams and Coleby’s tale caries a striking quality in production and substance.
As you can glean from the rather lengthy solicit, the basic conceit of “The Royals” is that the world’s various monarchies have been blessed with superhuman abilities. However, they choose to forego using their abilities against each other in the pursuit of war. This of course creates a large dilemma, as the world reels in the midst of World War II. As mentioned in the intro, Williams’ appropriately utilizes Spider-Man’s iconic mantra. However, he also takes it a step further, looking at the consequences of taking up said responsibility.
Fascinatingly, using such a simple concept, Williams and Coleby create a new world mythology, one shaped by the Kings and Queens who actually rise to the demi-god persona bestowed upon them. The team even goes as far as using these powers to explain the “bloodline preservation” of many historical royal families. The concept fits like a glove over recorded history, making for a fun “secret history” story.
However, the primary focus of the issue is not the Royals through the ages, but of the House of Windsor. Or rather, a fictionalized version of the British Monarchy. The team deftly introduces the reader to the cast, with only the Princess Rose coming off as slightly underdeveloped. Harry, the protagonist, obviously gets the most attention, although his older brother also makes a rather strong impression. The interplay between these three siblings is certainly intriguing, with a number of subtle and not-so-subtle undercurrents that will hopefully come to a head as the book continues.
What cannot be stressed enough is this; this book is flat-outgorgeous. The issue opens with an incredible action sequence. In a stunning double splash page, Prince Harry jumps parachute-less from a fighter plane. As he free falls, through zipping ammunition and exploding aircraft, Coleby uses inset panels to zoom in out, chronicling his descent. Through the carnage, he rapidly approaches the ground, only to zip forward at the final moment. Leaving a powerful jet stream in his wake, the powerful figure flies straight through a German soldier, splitting him in half. He brakes and stops before the entrails hit the ground, flames blazing in the back ground. It’s an incredibly powerful opening that sets the stage for what’s to come.
Continued belowColeby doesn’t glorify the war and bloodshed, however. Later in the issue, Harry and Rose witness the horror that besets their people. In a series of mostly silent panels, we see a city in turmoil, orphaned children crying out to no one, burning bodies cloaked in heavy crimson, and firefighters who sit by and watch, overcome with despair. Under JD Metters’ rich, vibrant coloring, these scenes take on a life of their own. Likewise, through the tragic imagery, Coleby establishes the motivation for Prince Harry’s rebellion in a way that words never could.
“The Royals: Masters of War” #1 isn’t perfect. There are a few forced lines of dialogue (Harry’s melodramatic monologue in the opening segment) and a few wonky faces (again, Rose is the biggest offender. However, the series carries on the strong lineage of books like “Superman: Red Son” and “The Authority,” giving us a Superman like figure who decides to defend those in his care. Like those books, the consequence of that decision turn out to be quite dire, and it will be extremely interesting to see how they play out.
Final Verdict: 8.5 – Buy. A true dark horse that deserves your attention.
