Shanghai Red #1 Review: Ride It Like You Stole It

By Nolan P. Smith

In a break from the plethora of superhero books on the market, Image Comics brings us a high sea adventure of revenge and despair. Enter Shanghai Red.

From Christopher Sebela, Joshua Hixson, and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou comes a grim and dark tale of one person’s drive for revenge. Jack is one of many shanghaied from his home in Portland in the 1800s, forced into hard labor by the captain. When the time comes, Jack dispatches the crew, revealing a secret to the others abducted like him. With one thing on Jack’s mind, they sail towards Portland to find the ones responsible for this, as well as to find the family Jack was ripped away from.

This is a very dark book, and rightfully so. From the grim setting of a captive boat to seeing the coast of Portland and how its changed since Jack was taken, this issue evokes the right emotions in it. I want to see how Jack exacts revenge, and if it is even possible. Seeing how he dispatched the crew with such savagery, I can only imagine what he has in store for those that separated her from her home.

Shanghai Red brings a blood-soaked revenge tale to the high seas and back again. I love the setup and twist near the beginning of the book. Once you read it, you will see why this review was written how it is: I don’t want to give anything away. Sebela, Hixson, and Otsmane-Elhaou have created a very encompassing, driven tale that I want to see through. Shanghai Red takes the readers’ captive and on a journey for vengeance. Highly recommended.

Rating: 9.0 out of 10.