As a fantasy author and fan, I love delving into a new fantasy novel or comic and being treated to a vivid narrative, alive with enticing characters and thoughtful world-building. This week’s release from Dark Horse Comics, The Carlyle School for Kings, has both.

Set in a fantasy world generations after a revolutionary war against a faction of giants, the land is divided into multiple kingdoms, all beholden to one king who rules over them all. This king’s rule is temporary, however, as once every generation, the children of the nobility are called to the Carlyle School for Kings to compete against each other. The winner at the end of the contests is then crowned the next king.

The focus of the story is on Emmelene of Minkler, or Emme as she is called by her only friend and fellow competitor Oddy. For reasons I won’t spoil here, Emme reluctantly attends the school, unsure if she even wants the crown. Nelson Greaves’ script presents us with an interesting protagonist to be our guide into this new fantasy universe. Her motivations are complex, and she feels like a fully realized character, even after just one issue. Of course, this is a narrative about a school, so there is the requisite steadfast, but goofy, friend in Oddy and the bellicose siblings Lane and Reagan serve as class bullies. The book does set up another potential friendship for Emme in Prince Arem who has a dark connection to Emme’s past. At this point in the narrative, Emme despises Arem and his family for crimes his father committed against her parents.

Davide Castelluccio’s art and its anime-like style are a great fit for this world. It reminds me of the aesthetic of Avatar: The Last Airbender or The Dragon Prince. There is a great deal of excellent story lifting being done by Castelluccio’s pencils here. In one particularly grim scene at the beginning, without any dialogue or words to point it out, we are shown the compassion of Prince Arem and his discomfort over his father’s (the king’s) actions. This quiet moment in the background of the panel highlights the potential for Arem to end up as an ally of Emme in the issues to come. I also appreciated that each kingdom had a distinct look and style. The school itself has an iconic design that evoked the Argonath statues from Tolkien lore that are always featured on the Fellowship of the Ring posters.

Francesca Vivaldi’s color work utilizes shadows to great effect. The best example of this is a scene with a caged giant. Most of the giant’s body is cloaked in shadow, and all the reader really focuses on are its two glowing red eyes peering out from behind the bars. Frank Cvetkovic’s letter balloons are well-placed, and I liked how Emme’s thoughts were represented in what seemed like strips of tattered scolls that only added to the classic fantasy flair of the book as a whole.

This is a solid debut comic that I thoroughly enjoyed. It wastes no time in welcoming readers into its world and Emme’s dilemma. As for Emme, she feels nuanced and carefully crafted. I can’t wait to follow her on this journey, especially with the ending promising an interesting and darker turn for the series. Anyone who loves fantasy that takes the time for strong world building and “magical” schools should pick up this book.

Creative Team: Nelson Greaves (Script), Davide Castelluccio (Art and Cover), Francesca Vivaldi (Colors and Cover), Frank Cvetkovic (Letters)
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Click here to purchase.