Tri Vuong’s Lego Ninjago: Garmadon #1 takes the lord of destruction down a new, heroic path far from Ninjago CIty in Skybound’s first Lego Comic.
Since founding Skybound Entertainment in 2010, Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman has used the company to publish all manner of groundbreaking and entertaining comics including James Harren’s Ultramega and Daniel Warren Johnson’s Extremity. Now, the company is collaborating with Lego to release the newest chapter in the Ninjago saga. Cartoonist Tri Vuong, the creator behind the upcoming Everyday Hero Machine Boy, writes and draws Lego Ninjago: Garmadon #1, a fun new look at one of Lego’s most frightening villains.
Lego Ninjago: Garmadon #1 follows the fearsome Garmadon as he wanders through the woods, living a solitary life, haunted by unsettling dreams. One night, he finds two travelers being threatened by a bear. He helps them scare the ferocious creature off, but discovers that his powers are fading. Luckily, his new acquaintances are from a village that produces a tea that could amplify his powers. Garmadon agrees to help them in exchange for the tea, but both he and the village have dangerous ulterior motives.
Tri Vuong uses tropes from classic samurai stories to create an exciting and accessible introduction to Lego Ninjago: Garmadon. The audience meets Garmadon as he is living the life of a Ronin, living humbly and traveling — a stark contrast to his previous position of power. He seems torn between his lust for power and his newfound humility. When the villagers ask him to help them return home after the bear attack, he initially refuses, but the promise of a hot meal is enough to convince him to carry them home on his back. By framing Garmadon as the reluctant hero, Vuong makes it easy to root for him, even if the reader can’t entirely trust him.
Much like his writing, Vuong’s art draws from iconic Samurai films and Manga. A few panels from Garmadon’s dream are clear homages to Goseki Kojima’s art in Lone Wolf and Cub. The range of motion he is able to communicate while maintaining the Lego character designs is remarkably impressive. Vuong’s characters are expressive and full of life while embracing the simplicity of the toys they’re based on.As incredible of a job as he does working within the confines of the Lego universe, some anachronisms do stand out. The bear in the forest is particularly jarring, as it is drawn in a far more naturalistic way than any of the other characters. Rather than enhancing the drama, this contrast distracts from it.
By the end of Lego Ninjago: Garmadon #1, it is difficult to know whether or not Garmadon can be trusted. He seems remarkably selfish, but he might be able to save a village. Either way, it’s clear that even darker forces will be on their way to complicate matters for everyone. Tri Vuong’s writing and art make this new addition to the Ninjago universe fun and compelling. Longtime Lego fans and new readers will both get a kick out of this exciting adventure.
Lego Ninjago: Garmadon #1 is due out on April 6.
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