We Only Find Them When They're Dead #1 Review

by Carlos R. on September 02, 2020

We Only Find Them When They're Dead #1 Cover Image
Written by: Al Ewing
Art by: Simone Di Meo
Color Assist by: Mariasara Miotti
Lettered by: AndWorld Design
Publisher: BOOM! Studios

Wow, what a great week this is for comics! So many new series are kicking off, including We Only Find Them When They’re Dead. The summary of the first issue to this series says that if you’re a fan of Decorum or Something is Killing the Children, you’ll enjoy this series and let me tell you, they’re 100% correct.

The sci-fi epic begins with a flashback to one of the protagonist’s, Malik’s, first encounter with a dead god. It then jumps to introduce us to Malik’s crew and transitions to ships gathering to divvy and harvest the corpse of a god. This scene helps to understand the way harvesting gods should be managed and humanity’s desperation for the minerals, metals, and flesh of the gods. This desperation overcomes one crew and shows us the penalties of working outside the system.

Al Ewing delivers so much in this issue. It makes for a great first issue: it builds the world we’re to explore, introduces our cast and gives us subtle impressions of their personalities, and sets up a series of conflicts that definitely piques the readers’ curiosities. I really enjoyed the approach taken to this issue, there’s so much to harvest from this world and Ewing gives us just enough to make sure once we’re buckled in, we’re seeing this voyage all the way through.

This series radiates cinematic, sci-fi epic vibes, if for no other reason (though there are many) the art alone should drive you to pick up this book. There’re so many cuts to this issue: jumping through flashbacks, views from different compartments of the ships and different ships as well, and Simone Di Meo and Mariasara Miotti manage to keep the flow. Our first view of a god is a moment of pure awe, we’re given many points of scale: the crew, the swarm of ships, and even the title pages; but when we get that first look, it’s incredible. The colors and framing of the helmet in some panels definitely give off Galactus vibes and lends to understanding the majesty of these beings.

We Only Find Them When They’re Dead is off to a wonderful start. Ewing, Di Meo, and Miotti deliver some of their best work. If you’ve enjoyed any of these creators’ previous works you know they are not ones to hold back and this issue is no different.
 

Our Score:

9/10

A Look Inside