Hey, I’ve never done press for a Kickstarter project before! I was really excited for this one, but by the time I got to reviewing it, it had already been funded. But that doesn’t mean I can’t shine a little more light on this wonderful series that deserves every penny.
Disclaimer: I received a review copy of Beastlands #1 directly from the creators.
Opinions are my own.
Beastlands is an action-adventure story set in a beautiful medieval fantasy world, where some people have companion beasts known as "Keepers". In Beastlands you'll go on an adventure with a group of 3 teenage friends, Mac, Ava, and Ping. They're on a journey to find out what Mac's father, an explorer, was trying to discover before he disappeared.
This is one of those things that I feel was made specifically for me. Beautiful worldbuilding in a fantasy setting ripped from Saturday mornings starring a cast of angsty teenagers bonded to monsters? Sign me the hell up.
But this isn’t your little brother’s cute monster battle story. The kids actually do more damage than their Keepers in this and when I say damage I mean murder with swords and blood. The creators compare Beastlands to Game of Thrones and they aren’t kidding around.
Our main character, Mac, is a brash and reckless youth who pushes his companions too far, his actions being the direct cause of most of their conflict. He also has a “missing father” plot which is one of my favorite tongue and cheek Saturday morning tropes.
Beastlands spends very little time sitting you down and explaining things about the world. Instead, we are dropped in the middle of Mac’s journey and given information about the world and the Keepers in a gradual, natural process. You guys know I love worldbuilding and writer Curtis Clow masters it in this single issue.
Jo Mi-Gyeong’s artwork is hands down the best illustration I have ever seen in a self-published work. The environments are lush and full of life, the characters are crisp and expressive. Nothing ever looks wonky or amateurish.
Beastlands is a comic that is made with both imagination and heart as it is built with the highest quality of production I’ve seen. The creators have clearly put their blood, sweat, and tears into a story that deserves every reader it can get.
Click here to back Beastlands #1 on Kickstarter for as low as $6 and experience this charming and wonderful world.
