We feel that it’s our duty to spread the word on comics’ hidden treasures, The Luna Brothers. Coming out swinging with Ultra, getting shout-outs from luminaries like Brian Michael Bendis, and impressing everyone with the epic GIRLS series, The Luna Bros are definitely stars on the rise.
Or they would be, if we can just get people to look past their solid-but- ‘non-flashy’ art.
Wait a minute, Luna fans. We LOVE the Luna Bros.
It’s just that the art seems to be a closed point of entry to too many. And when you’re churning stories as strong as The Sword, well, it might be time for a PopCultureShock intervention.
The Sword stars Dara Brighton, a former paraplegic-turned god-slaying heroine. When super-powered beings kill her entire family in search of an enchanted sword, they make the mistake of leaving her alive.
Finding the sword changes her destiny and puts her one of the bloodiest revenge dramas of the year.
The Luna Bros aren’t scared of a little gore. The clean, simple art reminiscent of The Bros Hernandez work on Love and Rockets, almost plays like animation. Arguably boring in the age of anime-inspired page design, the wide screen panel layout keeps the action flowing and cinematic.
The cool photo shop background effects don’t hurt either.
Past the art, it’s the drama that hooked us.
Dara’s in pain, clearly, at the violent death of her family. The miraculous powers and mystery of the sword has given her an incredible strength, and she means to use it.
Teamed with her faithful friend Julie, and reluctant guide Justin, they’re on the trail of three man gods who live freely on the earth. The only power keeping them in check from their desire of wanton destruction, is The Sword, and the integrity of she who wields it.
It’s light revenge plot, but characterization is the Lunar Brothers’ specialty. It all comes together like a small-budget movie, and book 2 picks up as Sara chases the god Zarkos and his deadly control of WATER.
Gory, thrilling, and driving in its bleakness, The Sword is, ironically, a really FUN read.
Volume 1 and 2 are both available in comic specialty shops, and the series continues via IMAGE comics.
