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StarHenge #1
- Writer:
- Liam Sharp
- Artist:
- Liam Sharp
- Cover Artist:
- Liam Sharp
- Publisher:
- Image Comics
- Price:
- $3.99
- Release Date:
- 2022-07-06
- Colorist:
- Liam Sharp
- Letterer:
- StarHenge #1
Considering how prolific artist and author Liam Sharp is, fans might be surprised to learn that he's never worked with Image Comics before. Luckily, that will all change on July 6 with the release of StarHenge #1, written and drawn by Sharp. The debut issue is a tour de force that incorporates Arthurian legends, time travel, magic, and plenty of action to create one of the most exciting comics of the year.
Narrated by a young woman with an interest in magic named Amber Weaver, StarHenge #1 tells the story of the war to save the human race. While Amber and her boyfriend Daryl talk about their hometowns' urban legends, the Ur Queen watches humans struggle to hold their own in a galactic battle against villainous robots. The humans use magic in an attempt to gain the upper hand, but try as they might, they are outnumbered and outgunned. So in a desperate bid to defeat her enemies and save the human race, the Ur Queen sends her only son back in time to the Earth.
It feels like Sharp explores a new concept on every page of StarHenge #1. He gives readers a glimpse of ancient history and the distant future before returning to the present to introduce Amber, the immediately charming narrator of the series. It would be easy for the exposition of an ambitious series like this to become dense and unapproachable, but Sharp is careful not to over-explain the numerous challenging concepts that make up the world of StarHenge. He allows them to remain mysterious, so that he can focus on his intriguing cast of characters, leaving the reader curious, not confused.
As fascinating as the story is, Sharp's artwork steals the show. The multi-layered, immersive nature of each panel gives credence to the world he's building and makes it easy to get lost in every page. He captures the horror of a futuristic war between humans and androids, before celebrating the gentle and beautiful nature of young love. Sharp presents each time period in a slightly different visual style, but each scene is overflowing with his distinctive energy. His art helps communicate complicated ideas and characterize new protagonists without sacrificing his singular style by incorporating a wide array of colors and textures. It would be easy to compare these painterly pages to the work of sci-fi/fantasy artists like Frank Frazetta or painters like Francis Bacon, but, truth be told, Sharp's stunning artwork defies comparison and classification.
StarHenge #1 would be worth reading and celebrating on the strength of either Sharp's writing or his art alone. But when viewed as a whole, this debut issue is pure comics magic. He's crafted a story that challenges the audience to keep up with it without alienating readers looking for an entertaining read. It's an absolutely gorgeous page-turner that is sure to benefit from multiple readings. It's hard to imagine where Sharp's story is heading, but it is sure to be an incredible journey.