Review: The Ludocrats #1

The Ludocrats is the kind of madcap caper combining the wit of Lewis Carroll with violence worthy of the Red Wedding. The madcap nonsense is written by Kieron Gillen and Jim Rossignol with art by Jeff Stokely with every panel bursting with humor, color and social commentary. The book starts off with a naked Baron Otto Von Subertan who argues he is not nude because he is covered in blood. His very patient friend Hades rushes him to a wedding within his own home.

The wedding scene truly reveals exactly the level of detail and nonsense this series will provide. The wedding includes a large cast of attendants of every sort, giving artist Jeff Stokely a chance to illustrate so many great characters that some are provided their own appendix detailing histories which will hopefully come into play in future chapters. The groom is pronounced doomed for the greatest sin of all, being boring. In spite of his cries that he has Ludicrous potential, Elaina his bride and Voldigan his best man turn against him at which point Otto swiftly beheads him.

The story allows Doctor Exposition to then whisk us to the after-party where Otto has decided he needs to couple just as Elaina’s aunt Gratty Gavelstein arrives. She is a judge and clearly a literal steam engine. Elaina arrivees with her now reanimated groom-puppet as well as Voldigan. The party also allows for a delightful cameo by Casanova Quinn dressed as a dinosaur before Otto attacks him as well as Bogol Theen a chainsaw gastronaut who’s life is empty without meat.

The plot thickens as we learn that Otto’s brother the Hyper-Pope Pardius has not arrived without explanation and that he seems unconcerned that many Ludocrats have gone missing. The Hyper-Pope’s guards arrive to arrest Gratty for being boring. In spite of a grand battle, they capture Gratty with Otto clearly ready to take revenge.

The story and characters are extraordinarily entertaining. The art by Jeff Stokely simply jump of the page with imagination, movement and shifting perspectives with every panel. He is clearly a skilled storyteller making every character starkly different and perfectly aligned to their characteristics. Tamra Bonvillain’s color are a central to the book’s success. A book such as this thrives in a contrast between bright, dark and bloody parts and Bonvillain’s work is a treat.

In concept and execution this book is a rousing beginning. The real challenge will be to see how well Gillen and Rossignol can keep us engaged over many issues. The hope is that they continue to find new social constructs to pull apart as the story progresses. This issues deals with marriage, property ownership, party etiquette and the greatest sin of being boring. Hopefully the creators continue the pace of pulling at aspects of society and our social media age that too many take a normative.

Writing 4 of 5 stars
Artwork 4 of 5 stars
Colors 4.5 of 5 stars

Overall 4.2 of 5 stars

Writing: Kieron Gillen and Jim Rossignol
Art: Jeff Stokely
Colors: Tamra Bonvillain
Letters: Clayton Cowles
Publisher: Image Comics

Author Profile

M.R. Jafri

M.R. Jafri was born and raised in Niagara Falls New York and now lives with his family in Detroit Michigan. He's a talkative introvert and argumentative geek. His loves include Star Wars, Star Trek, Superheroes, Ninja Turtles, Power Rangers, Transformers, GI Joe, Films, Comics, TV Shows, Action Figures and Twizzlers.