Set in 2125, Mulan: Revelations is the continuation of the legend of Mulan. Dark Horse Comics promised “a completely new twist” on the tale recently popularized by Disney; one which creator Robert Alter, writer Marc Andreyko and artist Micah Kaneshito deliver. Opening in the middle of a bloody battlefield leaves no confusion – this is no Disney-fied continuation.
The series blends traditional Chinese martial arts with futuristic cyberpunk elements to tell the story of a new Mulan; descendant of the legendary original. The world is facing a deadly supervirus and it falls to Mulan to stop it and save the world. Tying the two distinct genres together is the nature of the supervirus; the link between the distant past and Mulan’s cyberpunk future is unexpected, but incredibly dangerous.
Writer Marc Andreyko has a pretty impressive history writing complex female characters, such as Batwoman and Manhunter. He continues this trend with Mulan, who has a weakness for her family and a desire to help those less fortunate. Mulan is seemingly unaware of her ancestry or of what’s in store for her, but is still a good person regardless. This aspect of her character is an incredibly refreshing change from the “legacy prompts 180 degree turn into heroic deeds for the protagonist” trope that tends to befall legacy characters. Though Mulan hasn’t yet dealt with her family history or her role in what’s to come, the set up in issue #1 certainly indicates that it will lead to compelling, rather than cliché, character development.
The artwork is simply amazing with its muted tones perfect for the dark feel of the book. Kaneshito depicts both ancient China and the futuristic world of 2125 in stunning detail. The background of each panel is well balanced, showing only as much detail as necessary without being overwhelming or distracting. Kaneshito has only been on a few titles, but is as skilled as any artist working for the “big two”.
The world itself presents a scary concept, with the classes literally separated by the law and nearly 80% of the population outfitted with technological implants. The terrifying consequences of such a culture are explored in one scene at a medical clinic, where a character cannot be treated as needed due to the class laws. Using a cyberpunk backdrop to tell this story seems natural, and at times is almost necessary. The story and art work well together to ensure that it doesn’t feel forced or thrown in for the sake of being different, but has its place due to the nature of the story.
Overall the issue introduces the right amount of history and atmosphere, along with providing just enough information about the protagonist and her past to make the four-week wait for the next issue agonizing.
The longevity of a series like this depends on readership; so while you’re at your local comic shop picking up issue #1, have them add the title to your pull list. If issue #1 is any indication, you will not be disappointed.