I wanted to write a review of The Secret Land #1. I had a little extra time one day, and I decided to read it. The title didn’t really grab me, but the book itself did. I was engaged in this love story between two people who had played different parts in World War II, but were still active even though the war was over. She was going undercover, and he was going out to sea. They have a special connection, inexplicable really, so some months later when he gets word that she’s died, he knows it can’t be true, even though he’s devastated. And he’s correct: She’s taken to a secret island, where the remaining Nazis (Yes, there are always remaining Nazis.) are trying to gain some kind of weird, H.P. Lovecraftian power.

It was great, because it played the emotional story about as real as you could. It played the Nazi element as about as real as you could, while also layering in that trapped-in-a-winter-landscape-surrounded-by-evil horror element. Amidst all of this, she manages to get word out through the only line of communication available on the island.

In the time of an issue, time has passed, her identity is slipping, and the Nazis are becoming crazier, but the Allies receive her message, and the stakes of the story heighten exponentially.

First, this is simply a really great romantic drama and second a well-told horror story. I’m really curious how these two elements will come together in the end.

Tomas Aira’s artwork is really strong. The choice to use colors to represent the evil that gets out as opposed to the typical overused black-and-blood red combinations is smart.

I’d say do yourself a favor and take a look.

Creative Team: Christofer Emgård (writer), Tomás Aira (art), Mauro Mantella (lettering), Dave arshall (editor), Konner Nnudsen (assistant editor), Skyler Weissenfluh (designer), Adam Pruett (digital art technician)
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
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