Sci-Fi Comic Retrospective: CruZader
Our tale blends action, drama, religion and science fiction, joyfully incorporating the zaniest of conspiracy theories as grist for the mill. And don't be put off by the blatant religious theme; yes the work in steeped in Christian values but it in a totally irreverent spirit that does nothing to spoil your enjoyment of the narrative. The philosophical elements in fact add some pleasing depth to the story. Here we have one upon whom greatness has been thrust, not some hero by choice, who nevertheless has to find the faith and strength to live up to his role as the scourge of evil. Nor is this a one-dimensional piece of spiritual propaganda; the church is depicted as being far from perfect and there is a nod to Islam being fundamentally a religion of peace. Moral ambiguities abound and are not shied away from. There is mature content here, sex as well as violence, handled tastefully rather than gratuitously.
Cotejar's artwork is crisp and dramatic, perfectly matching the tone of the book. The monsters within are depicted with a little homage here and there to various legends of horror: The Evil Dead, the X-Files, HR Giger's Alien... It's an absorbing read (it took me an enjoyable hour to complete), ticking most if not all of your boxes, of both the gung-ho and the geeky variety. Seriously, all that was missing was a robot with laser-beam eyes to make it a totally universal crowd pleaser.
CruZader broke the Guinness World Record for Largest Comic Book Published in 2014, bringing international acclaim to the project. Quantity and quality, and at a great price... What more could you ask for...
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