Phil Hester has been consistently putting out good comics since we were all five years old. Drawing, writing, the whole shebang. In this case, we’re looking at Mythic #1, a comic he’s writing at Image. He collaborates here with John McCrea, and the result is something quite wonderful; one of the most auspicious debuts of the year.

The story is one that we see variations on, but never gets old: science is a lie; magic is the real thing guiding the world. We follow the characters that are, essentially, a clean-up crew for when magic gets messy. The story starts with them finding a new recruit (and some demons with inspired designs), and letting him in on the world.

Hester’s characters are a delight, and they’re brought to life by what might be the best work of John McCrea’s career. McCrea has never been a slouch, but what he pulls off here is remarkable: every design, from character to hobo-that-turns-into-demons, crackles with life; the page layouts, especially in the action scenes, serve the story perfectly, and range from perfectly utilitarian to wildly inventive. For a guy who’s been working as long as McCrea, you don’t want to say ‘break-out’ work, but if this is your introduction to him, you’re going to find yourself looking through the back issue bins to see what else he’s been up to.

Hester’s script seems to channel Warren Ellis a bit; the players are gruff, sarcastic, and above-it-all, but you’d be the same way if you were part of the secret crew that keeps the world together. Whatever the influences may be that went into the script, what comes out is undeniably unique. This book also contains what might be the best last page of any first issue released this year, by Image or any other company.

A character says: “Your evident facts and recorded data are mere veils over the leering face of cosmic insanity.” That should get you ready for what lies within the pages of Mythic #1. Hester, McCrea, and company stage something worth a standing ovation here. At two bucks for the first issue, you’re basically stealing the book. If you were on the fence, or if it doesn’t look like your thing, take a gamble; books like this should keep existing.

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