Falling in Love on the Path to Hell #1: Sometimes You Don’t Die Alone
Creative Team
writer & artist: GERRY DUGGAN and GARRY BROWN
colorist: CHRIS O’HALLORAN
letterer: JOE SABINO
publisher: IMAGE COMICS
Reviewed by Seth Adrian Romo
Falling in Love on the Path to Hell #1 is a hyper-violent action/drama that bends expectations of the afterlife. This issue introduces two distinct, but similar characters, whose destinies collide unexpectedly.
Set in the late 1800s, readers are introduced to Macraith, a gun-toting assassin, and Ogata Asami, a highly trained samurai.
While Western and Eastern themes merging is not a new concept in storytelling, Falling in Love on the Path to Hell manages to carve out its own space.
The story and art from Gerry Duggan and Garry Brown craft an intriguing narrative that hooks readers within the first pages of a shoot-out inside of a church of all places. Much of the plot emphasis is in the background of Macraith and Asami—leaving little time for character development, but their introductions still manage to captivate as hardened violent protagonists.
Mostly selective in their words, Macraith and Asami impress with their ability to take lives without reluctance and fightings skills. Luckily, the script leaves enough ambiguity for the art to fill much a lot of the gaps in the action sequences that fill panels with blood and body parts. In addition to the illustrations, the colors from Chris O’Halloran serve as a perfect final piece in the trifecta of word, art, and color palettes. The colors allow each location to feel distinct while having a palette that assists in the pages shifting to different locations such as California, Japan, and a place known only as Nowhere.
Final Verdict
From beginning to end, Falling in Love on the Path to Hell is so damn good and sets a high standard within its imaginative storytelling and blood-soaked panels. Its top-notch writing and excellent art design make perfect use of every page and rewards readers with an epic tale that traverses continents and realities.
| Criteria | Score |
|---|---|
| Writing | 9.75 |
| Story/Plot | 9.75 |
| Art/Line Work | 9.75 |
| Colors | 9.75 |
| Final Score | 9.8/10 |