Legends: The Enchanted #0 is a special $1 introductory issue for the upcoming hardcover graphic novel of the same name, which is created, written and illustrated by Nick Percival. The 28-page comic is released by Radical Comics, and goes on sale on February 3^rd. The graphic novel has no firm release date yet, but should be on sale in the Spring as a 128-page deluxe hardcover.

The Story

Violently ripped from the pages of folklore emerge the Enchanted, supernatural immortals living in a dark, steampunk, creature-infested world where nature, technology and foul magic are in constant conflict. When the twisted, burnt remains of the half-wooden, half-mechanical warrior, Pinocchio are discovered, wolf-hunter Red Hood and giant-killer Jack realize the fragile rules of their existence have been shattered. With the help of the other Enchanted (the mercenary Goldilocks and psychic exterminators Hansel and Gretel), Jack and Red team up on an adventure to stop whatever, or whoever, is destroying their powers and murdering their kind.

In this first issue we get to see Jack battling a Giant, which he has been hired to kill, by the people Krakenfield. In this version of the legend, Jack is able to gain a variety of temporary super-powers, by eating different colours of magic beans. The giant actually turns out to be two giants, but Jack still makes light work of them, and even kills one of them with a headbutt! However, the townspeople aren’t satisfied with the job, because half of Krakenfield was destroyed in the battle, but Jack cares not, he just takes his money, and rides off on his motorcycle, into the sunset.

Next we get to witness the torture and execution of Pinocchio, who in this version of the legend looks less like a wooden doll, and more like Swamp Thing. He is being tortured by a hag, at the command of a mysterious unnamed character. Gepetto lays dead on the floor, with a pair of scissors protruding from his forehead. The hag has retrieved from Gepetto the nail that gave Pinocchio life, and now hammers it into Pinochio’s chest, causing his body to tear itself to pieces!

The next Enchanted we get to meet is Red Hood, who we find traveling through the toxic wastelands known as the Bionic Woodlands. Werewolves are out in the woods tonight, and they try and sneak up on her from behind. Slyly, she pulls a scythe out from under her hood, and sets to work gutting the evil beasts!

We also get a glimpse inside the Hag’s layer, and a hint of dark events to come!

The Rating

There is one word to describe this #0 issue: intense! The comic opens with explosive action, and never lets up, even for one second. This is by no means a bad thing, because Nick Percival, still deftly manages to slip in strong introductions to several of the key players, as well as establish the plot of the larger story, that of the death Pinnochio and the plot to eradicate the Enchanted. It’s an incredibly intriguing first issue, with a strong concept and plot, great characters, fantastic dialogue, and thrilling action scenes. Percival is known primarily for his artwork, and I believe this is his first published script, which is actually quite hard to believe, because this is an astonishing piece of work!

We are seeing a lot of comics coming out at the moment that re-purpose characters from children’s stories, including Fables, Jack of Fables, Grimm Fairy Tales, Escape from Wonderland, and the upcoming Fractured Fables. I’m a huge fan of Fables and its spin-offs, but I find all the other derivatives of this title to be unoriginal trash, particularly the Zenoscope stuff, which is basically a badly written version of Fables with huge boobs everywhere. Legends: The Enchanted is the first comic to bring something new into the mix, and use these characters in an original way i.e. not just rehash Fables. Legends is set in some sort of twisted and dystopic world, in which we find radically different version of the classic characters, trying to get by in this nightmare world. The concept feels like something tat Pat Mills would dream up, and I mean that as the highest compliment, because Pat Mills is one of my all-time favourite writers!

If you haven’t been paying attention, Nick Percival also illustrates this comic, and the art is just breathtaking! The art work looks fully painted, but I believe it was painted digitally, or at least some digital effects were added later, which produces the perfect look for this dark and gritty world. The art is incredibly intricately detailed, and all the characters and environs look incredibly life-like. The best way I can describe the look of the book is to say that it looks like industrial music brought to life! It’s actually quite similar in style to the artwork of Clint Langley, who is the current artist on A.B.C. Warriors in 2000 AD. It’s just a beautiful looking comic, and I can’t wait to see the full hardcover!

Legends: The Enchanted #0 is an intense and powerful opening chapter of what is set to be an epic graphic novel. With an amazing story and beautiful artwork from Nick Percival, Legends: The Enchanted is sure to be an essential purchase. You can pick up this introductory chapter for only $1.00, which you would be a fool to miss out on!

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