All Against All is a captivating new five-issue miniseries from Image Comics. In the far future, a race of alien conquerors known as the Operators have created a habitat to house species salvaged from a long-dead Earth. Helpless is the last surviving human, who has grown to thrive as an apex predator in the confines of his jungle. After Helpless successfully attacks some of his captors in the first issue, one of the Operators’ Generals is on a mission to find out what happened to his men in the habitat. Written by Alex Paknadel with art by Caspar Wijngaard and letters by Hassan Otsmane-Elhauo, All Against All #2 dives into the personal motivations of its key characters.
B’Tay, the director of the facility, is given more of a spotlight alongside Helpless. B’Tay details the beginning of Helpless’ life in the habitat. He noticed that the other species taken from Earth could fend for themselves at a young age, but the human Helpless was feeble. He theorized that releasing Helpless into the habitat before he was ready might accelerate his development. Despite having the odds stacked against him, Helpless ended up thriving in the habitat, all the while harboring resentment towards his captors. Now General Cov’n is demanding answers about the human.
Paknadel adds a lot of nuances to B’Tay in this issue. It’s clear that he’s fearful of Helpless and his capabilities, but there are also layers of regret for his past. The morality of the Operators is called into question throughout the issue. B’Tay contemplates why the empire’s ceaseless expansion and endless wars. The machine of military conquest is put under the microscope, even as that same machine harvests other species to further its own ends. There is a feeling of existential dread peppered into various moments in the issue, and they land like hammer blows.
Wijngaard’s art is jaw-dropping throughout the issue. He has one of the most unique styles in contemporary comics, and every page is a treat to read. The “grunge meets vaporwave” aesthetic creates a distinct atmosphere for the series. His use of contrast in levels of detail rendered and in his coloring is stellar. There are sections of purely visual storytelling that are carried entirely by the art. They convey an incredible level of emotion and development without using a single word, proving Wijngaard’s strength as an artist and a storyteller.
Wijngaard’s colors pop in beautiful, vibrant hues. There’s a scruffiness to the art that gives it an added layer of texture and energy. The designs in this world feel unique, further separating All Against All from other sci-fi stories. Otsmane-Elhaou’s lettering is also superb. The speech bubbles have varying and distinct borders around them depending on who is talking, adding character to each. The use of color in the text also adds another layer of atmosphere to the story. The lettering works in perfect tandem with the art.
This series is off to an exceptionally strong start. The science-fiction meets horror premise introduced in the first issue is given more depth and wiggle-room in the second issue. Themes of the military-industrial complex, societal expansion, existentialism, fear, and regret are thoughtfully explored. Characters are fleshed out more, and the action is on track to escalate. With All Against All #2, Paknadel, Wijngaard, and Otsmane-Elhaou deliver a standout issue in a mesmerizing new world.
