Privilege has its advantages … until they become incomprehensible.

Creative Staff:

Writers: Miloš Slavković and Mirko Topalski

Artist: Miloš Slavković

Colorist: Dave Stewart

Letterer: Andrej Bunjac

What They Say:

January Lee is of royal descent, part of the ruling class that lives out their lives on accelerated, ‘’Lightstepped’’ worlds where a single day is a lifetime on a normal planet. But her “holy ailment,’’ which allows her to see the truth behind the Primogenitor’s lies, marks her for banishment to the outer worlds.

This is the beginning of a fantastic tale of alien worlds, a star-spanning empire, and rogues and rebels seeking a weapon hidden in the transmission of a radio drama from Earth thousands of years ago.

Content (please note that portions of review may contain spoilers):

Reality is separated by the length of your life, and the privileged ones who are descended from the Primogenitor are allowed to live on artificially created worlds – the faster your planet travels to the speed of light, the longer your life span compared to lesser caste people who work as laborers and die within one day of the ruling class. This Lightstepped world is the home of January Lee, a special girl who can trace her lineage to the first emperor and due to what they call the Holy Aliment, is able to see the past of this true king. Through these seizures she views the truth behind their history: three siblings who ruled together but were divided, a sister who kills her brother to vie for the throne and finally a monarch which executed a murder to secure his own lineage. It was after this tragedy by which paranoia clutches a fragile mentality, from this event was triggered the Great Purge of all not of his blood line … and the creation of a new one.

January can trace her ancestry back to the original one hundred – the children created through endless orgies and gene splicing to secure a mad king’s right to rule. However it was through this insanity his tragic life came to an end as angry crowds stormed the castle, leading to exile in the endless depths of the Crimson Quasar. However as Lee recovers from this latest bout of genetic memory, a day has passed from the misery and her brothers are the first people she sees, warmly greeting and urging her toward a welcomed breakfast. As the three siblings consume this meal, their father excitedly relays the message he just received from the Order of Purity: their brother Termion has been chosen as one of the candidates to become the next Alpha Regent – all he must do is complete the Following in His Path Ceremony. If this is supposed to be a joyous time for the family … then why does January feel so apprehensive on this fulfilling occasion?

In Summary:

When first reading Lightstep, I will admit I was hesitant with the story of a superior race with interjections of racial purity and to cleanse the universe of the tainted … in other words, within the first few pages it had too many similarities from another master race to allow any comfort in the subject matter. However as writers Miloš Slavković and Mirko Topalski’s narrative progressed, it is readily apparent this story was far enough removed from the nausea of those horrific terms that the reader could proceed trepidatiously, and yet the premise is still troublesome due to the remnants of an archaic caste system – one class looking down upon another with no guilt as to their suffering. And yet it is the character of January Lee who has a personality that will examine these ingrained values which make the tale approachable, a girl who will question society’s historical standards and doubt her place in this mad world. It is refreshing for her to state from the beginning she questions these beliefs even as she pronounces the Truths of the Progenitor – those same holy commandments which drive this class of leaders. As each page passes, to see their historical tapestry unravel and stunning details of a perverse past come to light, one can observe with displeasure how their civilization evolved and became the immoral mockery most would reject today; but with this in mind, it is satisfying to watch January reject those principles and lead the way to the future … even as she struggles with them herself.

With this unsettling narrative fresh in the reader’s mind, this premiere issue occurs within a curiously serene dystopian utopia, with blandness of the color palette hiding a dark secret. Thanks to Miloš Slavković’s tranquil illustrations and Dave Stewart’s calming selection of colors, this art style reminds me of Fritz Lang’s 1927 film Metropolis. To have the self important celestial leaders portrayed with wholesome whites and contrasting earthly tones of the workers with their primal emotions, these settings portray a visual divide between the two worlds. And yet as the reader is shown a placid and futuristic landscape within the Lightstep and down below the laborers toil ceaselessly to make a living, all while suffering as the leaders have no wants, you can clearly see the distinction between the classes – the Haves versus the Have Nots. Then if you take into consideration the Truths of the Progenitor which January is supposed to follow and the examples which are shown within the story, it makes the audience feel pity for both sides, but for different reasons: the sloth of above who have long lives and clearly no knowledge of the true world and the burden of the lower class with their brief life in a day and the cruelty of not knowing inner peace. Slavković gives the series an uniform feel, allowing the audience to absorb two atmospheres equally, but it is Stewart who reflects the calmness/sternness of their lives with such moving color schemes, wondrously blending the issue as a whole, all while allotting one title into disparate worlds but sharing the same people … as it sincerely should be.

Lightstepon the surface appears to carry a nauseating premise, allowing the concept of superiority to carry forward under the charade of a holy crusade for racial purity, making the story unsavory within a serene utopia. However as we become endeared with January and her rejection of those principles, the title undergoes a startling closing transformation, showing even those raised within this environment can see the truth, all hidden within sacrifices deemed necessary for the good of all. With subtle color choices and stunning illustrations used to bring out the beauty of both sides, this title appears destined for a deeper social consciousness, but for now, all we are left with is a narrative which is perverse in its lack of initial morality.

Grade: B+

Age Rating: T (for Teens)

Released By: Dark Horse/Eipix Comics

Release Date: November 21, 2018

MSRP: $3.99

Richard Gutierrez ?????? (Itadakimasu!) I’m hungry for anything Japanese – from sushi to manga to anime! And if comes with a side of comics, that makes me even happier! Put it on a platter and watch out! I’m a messy eater … so better get me a BIG napkin! (Or better yet, just let me use the tablecloth!) See author's posts

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