Writer: George Mann / Penciller: Joe Eisma / Colour Artist: Michael Garland / Letterer: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou / Vault Comics
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Released 19th August 2020
The Pitch: Earth is an ancient myth, long forgotten. Now, the word of the god-like Celestials is absolute, and they rule with brutal efficiency. When Joss, an Engineward, discovers and reactivates the head of an ancient Ghoulem, she finds all is not as intended. Her destiny-and that of her world-lies somewhere far beyond the borders of her shantytown.
Comics have always been an entry-level guide to mythology. Whether it's ancient Greek myth or Asian Legends, the beliefs, cults and esoteric systems by which the Human race described its history and explained its outer workings have always provided a solid foundation for creating the 'new mythology' of comics. In Engineward we're given something we don't see that often but which stays in that vein: Judeo-Christian myth fused with astrological representation. It certainly is different. Yet entirely recognisable.
Aren’t we the pinnacle? the most civilised, the most advanced? backed up by our all seeing gods?
We start on an unnamed world, that could be ours a thousand years from now, with a group of rough and ready scavengers (who actually might be archaeologists) unearth a skull that might hold no minor insignificance for an Engineer one of the scavengers is sleeping with back home. What's great about this is we're immediately presented with an Alien planet (where for the most part, everyone seems human) that clearly has a history. Therefore it exists for us, as real as anything. If it has a backstory, it must exist, right? History – and by extension, mythology – is one of the ways we translate the world, safe in the knowledge that we are not because we think but because we are part of a long line of thinkers. People who made, built, imagined. And whilst we're at it, why don't we just go ahead and consider ourselves the pinnacle of that line, too? The most civilised. The most advanced. Backed up by our all-seeing gods.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE PEOPLE REALISE THE POWER REALLY LIES WITH THEM?
But underneath all the world-building of Engineward is something else. There's decadence in these gods of the zodiac and the people grow restless and thirsty. What happens if the people stop believing? If they stop worshipping? What happens when they realise, like most societies should know, that the power really lies with the people? And that if people knew their true history, there might not be a need for these gods in the future? The first issue does what all first issues should and pose a set of questions for the series to answer. The book has an excellent feel and pace that keeps you hungering for answers, yet never lets you get frustrated that you're not getting them NOW. It's happy to let the plot actually build through the visuals and dialogue rather than having an info dump of exposition and then get the ball rolling with the story. The history we don't know yet IS the story. And it's going to give you the pieces you need when it's god-damned good and ready.
Mann's writing keeps the parallel threads – the unobtrusive voice over of the past and the dialogue/action-driven present – bubbling away nicely, giving you just enough details of the belief systems and societal customs of the world we're on so that you can piece together what the deal is here. Eisma's art captures the rough nature of the planet we're on and the earthly charms of its denizens. Garland's colours coat everything in dust, visible yet shrouded and muted. Otsmane-Elhaou's letters are rough, making you feel the thirst of this world's inhabitants. Their suffering climbs right down their throats and strangles their words. Engineward looks like the start of a revolution for them. Something big, all-encompassing. The world after the world... The next big myth.
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