Today’s Comic> Monarch Of Manhattan #1

“He was wrong. I can’t see my house from here. Then again my house is in another dimension.”

Monarch of Manhattan #1

Visionary Comics (2025)

“The Arrival book 1: Enter The Hero”

WRITER/CREATOR: C. Edward Sellner

PENCILER/LAYOUT: José Avilés

INKER: Rudi Sucipto

COLORIST: Paul Little

COVER ART: Azim Akberali

LETTERER: Jacob Bascle

New York: May, 2027: Accountant Harold Harrington’s life was falling apart just as he’s about to be mugged in Central Park. Then a flash of light brings a warrior from another world dressed in an outfit akin to African warriors. However, Shakalla isn’t from Africa. He’s from a world that was taken over by an evil wizard, killing Shakalla’s family to do so. When Shakalla managed to build an army to oppose his rule, the wizard escaped to our world. Now Harold and his neighbor, Yolanda Price, are helping him adjust to this world, though the warrior can’t help but rescue people and fight criminals, which draws the ire of the wizard…now business tycoon Damien Thorne, or as Shakalla knew him, Daemon Thorne. Also, Shakalla apparently won the lottery. That makes more sense in context.

What they got right: The art is really good. The concept I initially thought was going to be a Black Panther knockoff given what I saw on their website, but there’s enough unique to drop that comparison. I like the story thus far. Shakalla’s effect on Harold’s life is a good source of amusement. Yes, I see the connection to a certain big blue guy with Harold being an accountant sidekick to a crimefighter, but Harold doesn’t get a superhero outfit…in this story. Plus it’s not a parody and the humor doesn’t detract from the action.

What they got wrong: I guess we’ve forgotten s#%# is still a swear. I blame South Park, since their “word of curse” episode was apparently taken the wrong way. Other swears are still blocked from being said. How DID Shakalla learn English in a few weeks, and how did he learn to use the internet overnight when from the images he drew there don’t seem to be computers in his world?

What I think overall: This is off to a great start. This issue is up on Drive Thru Comics for free to promote the Kickstarter for a fully printed graphic novel, of which this is only the beginning. I’m going to have to check out more of their comics in the future.