Review: CRIMSON LOTUS TPB

The CRIMSON LOTUS TPB collects issues 1-5 of the mystical Dark Horse series written by John Arcudi with astounding visual art by Mindy Lee (colored by Michelle Madsen). The lotus is a revered plant/flower across several Eastern cultures, including Buddhism and Hinduism. The lotus has developed an alluring mythology over the millennia. Much of its allure derives from its uncanny presentation in the natural world. The lotus is often rooted in the muck or muddy waters. It blooms, submerges itself and re-blooms on a daily cycle. It is almost like a little phoenix flower, collapsing into the mud and re-emerging in full pristine bloom, all in a day“s work.

CRIMSON LOTUS takes the cyclical and mystical nature of the plant in its title and maps out a world where ancient Chinese artifacts, Russian mysticism and Japanese empire all collide. In the opening scenes of the TPB (issue #1), readers witness an origin story of the titular figure of the book. A young Miryoku almost witnesses the brutal murder and mangling of her father ”“ a soldier who is charged with guarding an ancient artifact. His failure marks the birth (or bloom, if you will) of Crimson Lotus and Miryoku“s motivation for becoming a master of magic“s dark arts. It“s an epic opening to the series and it provides readers with an imposing visual sense of this magical world.

Thirty years later, the Crimson Lotus is on the offensive and out for revenge on an epic scale. While Agents Baolu and Dai each have a good turn at playing the protagonist of CRIMSON LOTUS, soon enough Agent Shengli emerges as the central character. Shengli is an expert undercover operative who is best equipped to confront the mystical challenges that the Crimson Lotus presents. Shengli has been developing her skills in the mystical arts and she is the only agent who can compete with Crimson Lotus“ arcane prowess. The battles between Shengli and Crimson Lotus are cinematic and (at times) they are so well choreographed on the page that the book feels animated.

CRIMSON LOTUS is an international mystical mystery but it also shows brilliant flashes of horror. The way that the Russian mystic disposes of Miryoku“s father is an early, if gruesome example. But throughout these collected issues, elements of horror are seamlessly woven into the fabric of the story. Maybe the thought of masked monkeys doesn“t seem to be very horrifying to you, but somehow Mindy Lee“s depiction of masked monkeys is one of the scariest elements of a comic that has all sorts of horrifying monsters and gruesome moments in it. In its TPD form, CRIMSON LOTUS is a stunning story of horror, mystery, and an epic desire for revenge that ”“ like the lotus itself ”“ seems to re-bloom and re-bloom. 4/5

[yasr_overall_rating size=”large”]

(W) John Arcudi (A) Mindy Lee, Michelle Madsen (CA) Tonci Zonjic