Review: Brass Sun #1
It’s odd to think that, after 37 years, 2000 AD are only now about to release a serial monthly comic stateside. True, they’ve had collected editions and graphic novels published internationally through various avenues over the years, most recently with IDW publishing, but this is the first time a story is being lovingly taken from the bosom of 2000 AD’s flagship weekly anthology the Progs and re-printed as it’s own adventure for audiences old and, hopefully mostly, new. While this may come as somewhat of a curve-ball effort to seep deeper into the mindset of American comic readers, it’s actually a very opportune time for the British stalwarts. With the Dredd 2012 film still echoing heavily within greater nerd culture, and the one-shot sequel Underbelly having sold out of it’s first print very swiftly, now is the best shot they’ve had at getting a foothold and seeing if they can’t carve out a niche for their brand of sci-fi and fantasy surrealism. No pressure then.
Brass Sun may seem an odd selection at first for such a weighty cause, given that the story is very young in it’s publication history, part 1 having ran originally in 2012. However, within the first few pages of ‘Wheel of Worlds’, it becomes obvious why this was the perfect choice. Wide scope of setting, and easy to draw comparison to societal issues stand to attention very early to reassure seasoned readers this is a 2000 AD thrill, and give new blood a taste of what to expect from Tharg and co. Characters like Judge Dredd and Sláine, though deservedly loved, can be a a bit jarring with their regularly visceral violence and crude delivery; Brass Sun takes a more reserved approach, while maintaining the same punch-line.
Taking place in a ‘clockpunk’ world, we follow Wren as she is given the task of saving the clockwork solar system she inhabits before time runs out and everyone freezes to death. Going against a totalitarianism regime and the burden of being alone, she must fight the odds and find the key to restarting the sun. From the off, we’re shown this clockwork solar system, which houses the namesake brass sun, in all its glory and the simplistic art-style, delivered by I.N.J. Culbard, begins charming us instantly. Utilizing minimalism and a wide variety of bold colors, Culbard creates the fantasy world and characters of Orrery very quickly, working to immerse us in a rich but altogether sterile environment. Orrery is a place run purely by 
machines and the machinations of leaders. Mechanisms are in place and anything outside of the rhythm is seen as a glitch is removed, leaving only the strong in power and weak in service. Wren is one of these glitches, and upon attempted removal, begins her journey to provide warmth to her world.
It’s in these humble beginnings that Brass Sun‘s weakness begins to show; it’s simply not very inventive. The world is well realized, and the scripting, penned by Ian Edgington, is very good in making us dislike the evil-doers and wishing the hero to prosper, complete with nicely contextualized fantasy monikers, but nothing about Brass Sun jumps out as being altogether remarkable. Great art and dialog is let down a touch by very formulaic paneling that actually hurts the flow of the action towards the second half of the book. While this does speak to why this was chosen as a flagship title for the American market, and if you’ve barely read any 2000 AD before, you should already be reading it, it does mean that anyone whose been with Tharg for a while might not find much to chew on or find the experience much in the way of distinctive, especially compared to the currently killer Prog line-up.
But with all that said, Brass Sun isn’t being re-printed in these issues for my benefit. It’s being re-printed for yours, you being (hopefully) someone who hasn’t explored the collected worlds of 2000 AD and developed a taste for the beautiful, gruesome riches therein. A breath of fresh air as a 32 page full-length issue, instead of the bite-size morsels we normally get in the Progs, Edgington and Culbard have created something with humble beginnings. Charming, colorful and intriguing despite it’s flaws, Brass Sun is a comic to be checked out.
[easyreview cat1title=”The Arcade Verdict” cat1detail=”Not re-inventing the wheel, but still very much worth your time.” cat1rating=”8″]
