The Marked #1 Review
By Nolan P. Smith
When it comes to books I have been hyped for, The Marked from Shadowline/Image Comics is one of the top 3 of the year. Everything I have read and seen about it has it as one of my most anticipated books of 2019. Well, this is the week, and The Marked #1 is here.
From David Hine and Brian Haberlin, with art by Haberlin, colors by Geirrod Van Dyke, and letters by Francis Takenaga, the book hits the ground running from the first page. We see a foreshadowed event from the future that gives us a glimpse at the grim future ahead. Flashback to the past and we see how Saskia, a talented artist, ends up joining The Marked- a group of young, gifted people with powerful glyphs marked on their body, which allows for them to access some fantastic powers. It seems The Marked have been around throughout history in some shape or form, helping to fight the forces of darkness. But in this day and age, there isn’t a lot of actual evil, so they use their powers for enjoyment. But when a young woman in the group starts using hybrid magic, altering her glyphs, she opens the door to real danger.
Hine and Haberlin create a book that has a young X-Men feel to it, with a legacy that goes throughout history. This can make for some fantastic backstories or spin-offs! I love how the book opens on a major revelation, so when you reach the end, it makes you want to re-read it to understand what happened entirely. The idea of tying tattoos to a magical element is executed so well here; it looks and feels fantastic. The artwork is jaw-dropping; from the linework to the incredible colors, this is one of the best-looking books to be released this year.
The Marked is off to a solid start. I enjoyed diving into this new world of magic and legacy, and I can’t wait to see what happens next and how Saskia ends up the way she is, as we see at the beginning of the issue. Shadowline/Image Comics didn’t live up to the hype with The Marked; they completely surpassed it in my opinion. Make sure to pick up the first issue and get in on the ground floor of what is sure to be an amazing story.
Rating: 9.5 out of 10.
Nolan P. Smith is the Editor and Co-Founder of Pastrami Nation. Being a reporter for the past ten years, he has worked for a variety of media outlets, from newsprint to the ever-evolving internet platform. Residing in Victorville, CA, writing has always been a significant aspect of his life. You can usually find him at comic book conventions, looking for more amazing books to dive into, or at the gym at odd times of the night. You can follow him on Facebook, Twitter @nolanpsmith, and Instagram @kakooee.