‘Chronicles of Hate’ Comic Book Review

Wow.

Can that be my review? Just one word? Wow.

This book is so damn good. The Chronicles of Hate’s Adrian Smith handles both the art and story and, man, where has he been hiding? Chronicles of Hate tells the story of an unlikely hero set in a world where the sun is frozen and the moon burns. Our hero begins a journey to free the Earth Mother from her chains in order to set the world right.

Chronicles of Hate 01 1

The art’s first thing that grabs you by the collar and punches you repeatedly in the face. This is a book you show your friends when they are all like, “Comics aren’t art.” Pop this book open, prove them wrong, and then explain to them why you’re not friends anymore. Smith’s art is bold, detailed, and honestly feels like it can be hung on a wall. The entire book is in black and white, which really allows all the finer details to stand out. Save for the Earth Mother, every character is pretty ugly and gruesome, especially our hero. But it’s amazing how, through his eyes, you can see his big heart and soft soul.

Adrian Smith is a gifted visual storyteller, and it’s very apparent in this book.  There is very little dialogue, and at times I wonder if the script was more of an afterthought.  The book could work just as well without any words at all. Reading these types of hero’s journey tales always reminds me of The Lord of the Rings and Bone, and, in this case, that’s a good thing because you could nearly put this comic right up there with them. By the time the book ended with a “To Be Continued,” I found myself wanting more, more, MORE! Large armies, large creatures, magic, dragons; this book has it all.

Chronicles of Hate 01 2

If you don’t pick up this book, you are surely missing out. This is a great original title that will knock your socks off. And your shoes. Socks and shoes, right off. This book is going straight on my bookshelf, and I will wait, pretty impatiently, for the next installment.

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