Death Fight Forever #1 Review

By Nolan P. Smith

Editor | Pastrami Nation

If you’ve been paying attention to Image Comics lately, you might think they’re on a hot streak with a string of standout debut issues. I’ll argue this instead: Image Comics has always been on fire. And with Death Fight Forever #1, they remind us exactly why.

From Andrew MacLean and Alexis Ziritt comes a fast-paced, knock-down, drag-out brawl of a debut that wastes no time making its presence known. The issue opens with a glimpse deep in space—hinting at a much larger cosmic conflict—but quickly grounds itself in the gritty, explosive energy of the 1990s.

At the center of the chaos are the Biggle brothers, two hard-edged mercenaries recruited by Commander Thunderfang to tip the scales in a battle against the dimensional crime boss Lord Slyther and his formidable right hand, Marla Mendoza. What unfolds is a firefight that doesn’t just deliver spectacle—it alters the trajectory of the Biggles, their enemies, and potentially the fate of humanity itself.

For me, this felt like a love letter to G.I. Joe—but cranked up with a hard-edged, Rated-R intensity. The character designs are bold and unforgettable, and if you haven’t experienced Alexis Ziritt’s artwork before, you’re in for something special. I’ve been a fan of his work since his Black Mask Studios days, and he brings that same kinetic, larger-than-life energy here. Every page feels like it’s vibrating with motion.

MacLean strikes an impressive balance between grounded emotional stakes and over-the-top sci-fi mayhem. It’s explosive without being empty—there’s purpose beneath the chaos.

Death Fight Forever #1 hits the ground running and never looks back. It leaves you asking the right questions: Are we staying Earthbound? Are we heading full throttle into deep space? Wherever this series goes next, I’m on board.

Round one goes decisively to Death Fight Forever.

Rating: FOUR Pastrami Nations out of FIVE