Note: Extreme violence and generational trauma are represented in this story.

In his quest to stop the Sumatran Tiger (a.k.a. Mr. Lim) from using dangerous firecrackers against the townsfolk, Pitung faces off against a gang of thugs. He is joined by Ayesha who is trying to stop the Tiger, but for entirely different reasons. In the fight, he loses a family friend but destroys the warehouse full of explosives. Ayesha, a skilled fighter, challenges Blackbull until she discovers who he really is, and they join forces—sort of. When Mr. Lim learns he’s lost the entire warehouse, he orders a bounty on Blackbull’s head. The stakes are upped when Pitung and Ayesha hit Lim’s house to find out what his plan is, but only managing to make off with a map. The gang leader is furious and hires Pitung’s training partners to hunt him down without realizing who he is.

The theme of generational trauma is woven throughout the story. We see how it shapes and defines each character differently. Ayesha is relentless, ruthless, and unforgiving. Pitung is equally driven but must deal with the literal ghosts of his past due to his magical abilities. Theirs is a brutal world where the idea of peace is thought to be a weakness.

This is a gorgeous comic. The colors are lush, and the art is spot on. I particularly liked the dynamics of the fight scenes. They practically leap off the page. There is also a better balance between male and female characters in this issue. Valenza and Barajas have made the motivations of the characters very clear. They are flawed and damaged, yet deeply human. You may not agree with their actions, but you can certainly understand why they do what they do. And the map is very cool.

The digital Kickstarter edition also included the variant covers which were a nice add-on. I’m definitely looking forward to the next issue.

Creative Team: Bryan Valenza and Henry Barajas (writers), Ario Murti (artist), Bryan Valenza (colorist), Troy Peteri (letterer)
Publisher: Beyondtopia
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