Bug Wars #1: Readers Will Be Ansty for the Next Issue
Creative Team
writer: JASON AARON
artist: MAHMUD ASRAR
colorists: MATTHEW WILSON
letterer: BECCA CAREY
publisher: IMAGE COMICS
Reviewed by Seth Adrian Romo
Bug Wars #1 reads like a love letter to adventure films from the 1980s hitting all of the right nostalgia notes.
Set after a tragic loss, the Slaymaker family moves back to their old home as the two kids struggle to adjust in their own way. Sydney, the older son lashes out when he’s not alone blasting music, and Slade spends his time taking care of his bug collection. When a portal to a world filled with hyper-intelligent bugs is discovered, the father’s passing may have more mystery than believed.
Written by Jason Aaron, the script is engaging and balances the lore of the bug world while introducing the tension within the Slaymaker family. Sydney being a cruel older brother is a bit of a cliche story element and the Mom has little to no personality, but these small shortcomings are made up by the larger narrative.
The Japanese storytelling element of isekai—a story that follows a character transported to another world—is the crux of this series premiere and its does a solid effort in getting readers excited for lands to be discovered. The inclusion of different perspectives of bugs is clever and add a nice second hand account in the script to the violence unfolding.
Moments in the Slaymaker home are quieter compared to the violence in the bug world but there are clever panel designs that show how bug-infested the home has become in the family’s absence.
Illustrator Mahmud Asrar’s work is phenomenal in the details and tone of each panel. Whether it is the large scale battle ground between ants and beetle-riding barbarians or the menacing smile of Sydney as he prepares to attack Slade’s bugs, the emotions and tensions are expertly visually told.
It helps that Asrar is paired with colorist Matthew Wilson and the color designs—especially when blood is in the mix—fill the pages with angry red ants and green bloody body parts.
Aaron’s script is concise letting the art immerse the reader into the story, and the focused writing allows letterer Becca Carey to incorporate various font styles for narrating or battle cries from warriors.
There is a lot to celebrate with this story and the entire team puts together an experience that balances familiarity and innovation. While the script includes some cliche moments and disregards the mother figure, it still captivates and holds the reader’s attention throughout.
Final Verdict
Bug Wars is an imaginative and ambitious dark fantasy story full of epic moments. It’s not all violent as the family drama feels relatable as they try to recover.
| Criteria | Score |
|---|---|
| Writing | 8 |
| Story/Plot | 9 |
| Art/Line Work | 9.5 |
| Colors | 9.5 |
| Final Score | 9/10 |