Savage Things #1 Review

People are Strange

Written by: Justin Jordan
Art by: Ibrahim Moustafa, Jordan Boyd, Josh Reed
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: March 1, 2017

I have been in the mood for a gritty, mature title lately and out of nowhere...BOOM!  Justin Jordan's Savage things showed up and I figured I'd give it a quick read.  Well, I was impressed enough to review it and spoiler alert, will be picking up the next issue for sure.  I don't know why I'm saying that here when I should just get into the review.  Screw it...here is my review of Strange Things #1...

The story begins in 1991 and we get to see our main protagonist, Abel, as a kid...a fucked up kid who quickly enters a fucked up situation which turns his world all kinds of upside down.  Returning to his home, he finds his parents have been murdered by a man who turns out to be a really messed up recruitment officer.

Before heading off to school, however,  we head to "now" and see that it's not just the 90s that were a screwed up time to live through as a hotel finds everyone staying there has been butchered. Believe me, it's fucked up to the extreme!

We do get a look at who was involved and also who was supposed to pay attention to it all.  Before heading back in time, we hear code words and see worried men wracked with fear and a bit of shame.

Then, back in time 25 years ago, we see a school, some teachers and a room full of future serial killers all seemingly recruited like the boy at the beginning of the issue.  In fact, our boy is called up in front of the class with another boy and while they answer their question right (it's not the answer that was messed up here), the prize is the kids get to fight to the death until their numbers are halved. 

The remainder of the issue is spent in the present where we see Abel as a young man, being pursued by a covert ops team through the city streets.  I saw this book being portrayed as a Jason Bourne type story and while the beginning to quite fit the bill, this part does.  Abel makes quick work of his pursuers and in a very violent way.  However, the ending is about job offers and ghosts from the past.

I liked this book a lot.  It was a bit of Dexter meets Jason Bourne and as a fan of both, I'm in.  The story was intriguing and the art was crisp and clean (with no caffeine) and I can easily recommend this to anybody looking for a mature book with action and mystery mixed with violence and gore.

Bits and Pieces:

Justin Jordan gives readers a book full of intrigue, mystery, murder and mayhem.  While the violence steals the spotlight a bit here, the slow burn story behind it has me most interested. If you are on the market for a well written, good looking mature title, check this out.

8.5/10