There’s no shortage of apocalyptic stories, so a new comic needs a solid premise and execution to stand out among the rest. Thankfully, BOOM! Studios’Behold, Behemoth #1 — written by Tate Brombal, drawn by Nick Robles, and lettered by AndWorld Design — delivers a fresh, exciting take on the end of the world. Behold, Behemoth Follows social worker Greyson after his brother’s surprising death. The protagonist is losing touch with reality. Things escalate further when his nightmares about an apocalyptic world collide with his latest case about an orphan girl, Wren, at the heart of a murder.
A key aspect of Behold, Behemoth is that Greyson is doubting his sanity, as he suffers from nightmares, visions, and lapses in time. Because of this, Behold, Behemoth jumps around reality and time, but Brombal expertly navigates the non-linear nature of Greyson’s mind to avoid alienating the reader.
Behold, Behemoth wastes no time establishing Greyson as a protagonist to root for. While he struggles with his personal life, he’s clearly a compassionate figure. Brombal’s dialogue between Greyson and Wren feels genuine and vulnerable. Readers already get a glimpse of the badass hero Greyson could become as he tries to help kids in dangerous situations. Greyson is bound to be an apocalyptic hero that readers can aspire to live up to.
Another stand-out aspect of Behold, Behemoth is the art, specifically the colors. The way Robles plays with lighting and color helps establish the mood of each scene. Stark reds and blacks clash against warm hues to foreshadow the apocalypse ahead. While not fully immersed in this future, readers know it will be hellish from this design choice. On the other hand, the cooler tones emphasize the desperation of Greyson’s character, while the synthetic yellows capture Wren’s unhealthy and concerning environment.
The colors alone capture the essence of Behold, Behemoth, but Robles does not stop there. The moments where Greyson has an episode stand in stark contrast to what’s actually happening. Silhouettes of dangerous beings create an almost shadow puppet-like depiction of the apocalyptic future, which makes Greyson’s nightmares feel even more like premonitions. The few splash pages dedicated to these visions tease an epic, dystopian landscape.
Robles captures the emotions of the characters in the real world just as well. Wren, in particular, breaks one’s heart, and there is a tender sadness in the way Greyson sees the world. Behold, Behemoth lets the art speak for itself. Instead of relying on lengthy narration, Robles communicates Brombal’s script beautifully. However, when there is narration, it helps capture Greyson’s struggle. As for the dialogue in Behold, Behemoth, it never feels expositional and quickly establishes some key dynamics within the ongoing series.
Behold, Behemoth Issue #1 is off to a great start. Brombal and Robles are an apocalyptic dream team. Instead of giving yet another post-apocalyptic tale, Behold, Behemoth builds up to its end times, exploring the dread before an apocalypse hits while also promising something frightening yet exciting to explore in upcoming issues. Most importantly, it features a charming protagonist for readers to connect with, which is key to any apocalyptic fiction.
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