Bug Wars is one of the zaniest, goriest books on the shelves right now. And it is completely awesome.
Jason Aaron (Absolute Superman, Avengers) channels his childhood days of backyard playtime in this foul language-infused, blood and guts fest from Image Comics. That may paint a pretty gnarly picture of Mr. Aaron’s childhood, but who here hasn’t allowed their imaginations to run wild while playing with plastic swords and performing feats of epic heroism 20 or so feet from your front door? Bug Wars is the realization of all that wonderful childish freedom and pure creativity, and Aaron, alongside artist Mahmud Asrar (King Conan, Psylocke) and colorist Matthew Wilson (Ultimate Spider-Man, The Incredible Hulk), bring all of that joy and wonderment into some hardcore, hard-R widescreen comic book action.
Bug Wars begins with an invasion of an anthill by a band of savage beetle riders. Literally. One part A Bug’s Life, two parts Game of Thrones, and a Honey, I Shrunk the Kids salt rim later and you’ve got yourself the comic book equivalent of one ass-kicker of an adult beverage. But that’s only a small part of the story. (See what I did there?) We also are introduced to the Slaymakers: a down-and-out family of three forced to retreat to their deceased patriarch’s ramshackle cabin, where he once studied insects before seemingly being eaten alive by them. Slade, our teenage protagonist, has himself a pretty healthy obsession with insects, too, but his brother Sydney has gone full bug slayer after being the one who had found his father’s half-eaten body when he was just five years old. What connects these stories, you may ask? A magical amulet that shrinks Slade down to the size of those aforementioned insect barbarians, opening the door for all kinds of yet-to-be-revealed mysteries.
Essentially, though, what you’ve got here, at its core, is classic Jason Aaron with his penchant for powerful family drama juxtaposed with insane, zany action. The drama is grounded and brimming with pathos, while the gorefest is packed with playfully sinister fun. Asrar has outdone himself, as well, by making disgusting, brutal deaths somehow beautiful with the complexity of even the smallest details.
Bug Wars #1 sets the stage for a series full of expertly performed storytelling feats that only Aaron and this team of all-star artists can pull off. It’s a hellacious good time, it’s totally gross, and it’s chock-full of potential to display truly earned emotional heft. It’s not to be missed. Just don’t read it around folks with weak stomachs.
Creative Team: Jason Aaron (writer), Mahmud Asrar (artist), Matthew Wilson (colorist), Becca Carey (letterer)
Publisher: Image Comics
Click here to purchase.
