Grant DeArmitt and Lane Lloyd’s Hunt for the Solavore #1 is a visually stunning tale of cosmic horror reminiscent of great golden age comics.
The idea of the shared fictional universe is one of the most influential contributions the comics medium has made to pop culture as a whole. Series like Black Hammer, Hellboy and of course both the Marvel and DC Universes have given fans and creators alike entire worlds to explore. Writer Grant DeArmitt and artist Lane Lloyd introduce their new universe in the recently Kickstarted The Hunt for the Solavore #1, an imperfect but well-crafted comic which is currently available in digital formats, with a print edition forthcoming.
The Hunt for the Solavore #1 begins with a heartbreaking scene where a family frantically struggles to evacuate the planet Umbras right before it is destroyed by the fearsome Solavore, a cosmic monster who feeds on the energy of suns. Elsewhere in the galaxy, in the kingdom of Morrigen, King Theosis, his husband Abbinoir and their advisors watch a video of the Solavore devouring Umbras’ Sun in the blink of an eye. Shortly after seeing this harrowing footage, Theosis’ astronomers discover the Solavore’s location, so the aging king gathers his warriors and prepares himself for the most important and dangerous mission of his life: to stop the monster before it brings about the destruction of the entire galaxy.
DeArmitt’s writing successfully evokes the spirit of classic comic books. Jack Kirby’s influence is apparent from page one. The Solavore itself shares several similarities with Marvel’s Galactus. Even DeArmitt’s language seems to be a modern version of the bombastic prose of the golden age of comics. This classical approach is both the comic’s greatest strength and weakness. On one level, there’s something endlessly charming about this well-crafted love letter to the early days of the comic medium, but DeArmitt and Lloyd are so committed to their homage that the story ends up being fairly predictable. By the end of The Hunt for the Solavore #1, readers still won’t have encountered anything particularly new or surprising. The characters are crafted well and the universe they inhabit clearly has an extensive history, but the boilerplate plot doesn’t give them enough of an opportunity to shine.
Like Dearmitt’s writing, Lane Lloyd’s art wears its influences on its sleeves, but Lloyd’s work still feels fresh. Their characters are drawn in an energetic, cartoonish style that owes as much to artists like Mike Mignola and Andrew MacLean as it does to the artists of the golden age. Lloyd’s character designs and brilliant colors make every page visually striking. The art in The Hunt for the Solavore #1 ranges from space-age psychedelia to good old-fashioned fantasy action. The climactic battle is grisly enough to be emotionally potent, but zany and playful enough to keep things fun.
The ending of DeArmitt and Lloyd’s Hunt for the Solavore #1 implies that readers can expect to see more of the citizens of Morrigen and the sinister Solavore. It seems the two creators have crafted an entire universe rife with potential stories. While DeArmitt tends to lean on classic comic tropes a little too frequently, he clearly has a knack for character and knows how to give Lloyd’s fabulous art room to shine. While Hunt for the Solavore #1 isn’t a perfect comic, it is a joy to read, and DeArmitt and Lloyd are two upcoming creators to watch.
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