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The Dead Lucky #1
- Writer:
- Melissa Flores
- Artist:
- French Carlomagno
- Letterer:
- Becca Carey
- Cover Artist:
- French Carlomagno
- Publisher:
- Image Comics
- Price:
- $3.99
- Release Date:
- 2022-08-03
- Colorist:
- Mattia Iacono
War has a profound impact on the political landscape and culture of the countries involved and on the millions of soldiers who operate under strict orders and extreme pressure. The horrific images and loss stay with them forever, creating a lasting effect that manifests into symptoms. Recently discharged Bibiana Lopez-Yang, however, returns home with more than just traumatic stress as the last tour imbues her with something more electrifying. War follows Bibiana home in The Dead Lucky #1 from Image Comics, written by Melissa Flores with artwork from French Carlomagno and Mattia Iacono and lettering by Becca Carey, giving the retired Captain a new mission: save her neighborhood from gangs and corporations.
Set in a futuristic version of San Francisco, The Dead Lucky #1 opens in the middle of a civil war between the city's big brother, the Tech company Morrow, and the Salvation gang. Caught up in the crossfire, citizens are rapidly leaving their houses for Morrow's safe havens. Bibiana, who has been mandated to undergo psych evaluations, lives in one such neighborhood, Chinatown, with her parents and childhood friends. When Morrow threatens to pull out their "peacekeeper" robots from the area and Salvation leaves a trail of destruction, Bibiana has no other choice but to use her powers to protect her people. Piloting a mecha made by her best friend, Eddie, the soldier makes a stand.
The Dead Lucky #1 follows the protagonist's day like a shadow, from her appointment at her therapist's office to her getting inside her mecha suit for a high-voltage thrashing. Like any other story, dialogues form the basis for exposition here, with visual cues providing additional information that otherwise might not come up during conversations. Bibiana often peers past the panels, as if to converse with the readers, discussing backstories and current present events, the volatile political climate, or the complexities of her past relationships. She never quite breaks the fourth wall, but her unflinching gaze creates an enthralling read, and the gradual introduction of new characters spices things up.
There is a litheness to the characters that comes with artist French Carlomagno's clean lines as he fills the panels with fine detail. The opening half of the story creates a world that is part technologically advanced and part brick and mortar. As Bibiana passes under a tunnel separating the neon-lit industrial district and Chinatown, the dichotomy of the two styles reflects the duality of the protagonist herself. Soon, Carlomagno adds frenetic energy to his strokes, dialing the action up to an eleven, with Radiant Black colorist Mattia Iacono joining in on the fun using striking colors and electrifying effects. Iacono changes the color palette on every page to keep things interesting.
The Dead Lucky #1 opens slowly but amps up the action in the final act, cementing Bibiana as a no-nonsense heavy hitter in the first issue. But every deed has its consequences, as the former army captain soon learns. Her violent approach to crime rubs many the wrong way while earning the approval of a few others. With her best friend in a coma and her powers giving her trouble, Bibiana finally reveals whom she was talking to the whole time, leaving readers in shock.