Comic Book Review: Seven Secrets Volume One written by Tom Taylor, illustrated by Danielle di Nicuolo
On an alternate Earth, there are seven secrets that could allow a person to rule or destroy the world. Each of them is somehow contained in a relatively ordinary-looking briefcase. To protect these briefcases, the Order of the Seven has for generations assigned a Holder (who carries the briefcase) and Keeper (who protects the Holder) to each case to keep them safe from the various people who want the secrets to actually use them.
Our story is narrated by Caspar, a trainee in the Order who has a murky past, and is now preparing to become a Holder. This happens just as the Seekers, the most organized of the Order’s enemies, finally gain inside information that will allow them to strike effectively to gain the Secrets.
The art is good, and it’s mostly easy to tell the main characters apart. We get some depth of characterization, though most of it is reserved for people directly involved with Caspar.
The story doesn’t shy away from the fact that the Order is pretty much a cult, and their way of doing things has ossified in a way that causes pain to its members. Most of the members have bought into the “necessary” sacrifices, but one of the villains is a former Order member who hasn’t. His goal is, perhaps, more reasonable than the other Seekers–but his methods suck and the other Seekers are more motivated by greed and powerlust.
We get hints as to the nature of two of the Secrets (one having something to do with Atlantis) and presumably later volumes will go into more detail. This volume ends with the remnants of the Order going on the run from the Seekers.
Oh, and I mentioned that this was an alternate Earth. This becomes obvious when we see the Queen of England. Definitely not Queen Elizabeth II or any of her likely heirs.
Content note: Some bloody violence, torture, bullying. In general, though, this falls squarely in “young adult” territory.
This is a good opening volume with plenty of action, some mysteries to be revealed, and characters I care enough about to come back for a second volume. Recommended to “ancient conspiracy” fans.
