LITTLE BIRD#1
Writer: Darcy Van Poelgeest
Artist: Ian Bertram
Colorist: Matt Hollingsworth
Publisher: Image Comics
8/10
I can never resist Image Comics releases. They know how to reach out to me through their marketing. So, when LITTLE BIRD was announced, I was more than excited and was even happier when I bought the first number.
Written by Darcy Van Poelgeest and illustrated by Ian Bertram, LITTLE BIRD is all about resistance and identity.
The story starts off in Canada after war. “Little bird” is the name of a young girl trying to fulfill her mission of starting a revolution she has yet to understand. And who can blame her? Even as an adult, it can be hard to understand every detail of an oppressive system, especially when the universe takes place in an American Theocracy. If you're like me and are not familiar with the term, a theocracy is “a system of government in which priests rule in the name of God or a god” and for the sake of this story, it is important to keep that in mind.
And just with that, I was already sold. The collision of native American culture and an “American Empire” makes me really invested in the story. Add in the futuristic details and the patriotic symbols and you have in your hands a more than intriguing book.
With sensitive subjects like controversial politics and religion, it can easily become misunderstood or just too much. But the writing of Little Bird is so well done, that the critique of society is subtle but still present.
They started strong with this first number. They introduced us to the universe and settled the plot without revealing all the twists (tip of the iceberg situation). I got confused at some point with the characters but I think it's normal for a first number: you must give them some time to properly develop.
Got a lot of action, violence, and gore like you would expect from a growing rebellion. There is blood and they are not afraid to show it, but it’s never tasteless.
In the end, you’re left with a lot of questions and maybe some confusion. For me, that means there’s a lot of space to grow (for the characters and the storyline). You got a bite and you’re left wanting more.
The art is truly a huge part of the book: it’s detailed with gorgeous color work. Also, I just love how they represented the characters, original and intriguing. You can see the contrast of futuristic design and traditional native armors.
This series gives a voice to a culture that is generally shot down or not often represented in the media. It's nice to see this post-apocalyptic universe where traditional meets futuristic. I'm excited to see what's next. There's great potential in this series.
*take note they said it will not be print in TP. Issues only so if you can put your hands on those do not hesitate one second!