What would you do if your personal history was suddenly being rewritten?  Your Major Spoilers review of Sex Death Revolution #1 awaits!

SEX DEATH REVOLUTION #1

Writer: Magdalena Visaggio
Artist: Becca Farrow
Colorist: Harry Saxon
Letterer: Zakk Saam
Editor: Hannah Means-Shannon
Publisher: Black Mask Studios
Cover Price: $5.99
Release Date: Black Mask Studios

Previously in Sex Death Revolution: Life is a story.  Her’s is being rewritten.  Still reeling from the sudden collapse of her cover, Manhattanite sorceress Esperanza tries to rebuild.  But everyone in her life is saying she’s done and said things that never happened — terrible things.  Before she knows it, she’s becoming someone entirely different.  Someone she used to be, once upon a time.

MAGIC IS COMPLICATED

As our story opens, Esperanza and her girlfriend Shannon have to deal with the fallout from the dissolution of their coven and the lies that were told by Annie. one of the elders of the coven.  They want to build a new coven, but none of their recruits believe that it can work, thanks to some fundamental mismatches of mystical something something.  (It’s hard to describe, but really interesting to read about.)  As things progress, though, Esperanza and her world begin changing, she starts smoking again and never remembers quitting and even the story of how she and Shannon met changes…  and only Shannon is aware of why.  And when she attempts to protect Esperanza with sorcery of her own, things get even more wonky.

But Shannon isn’t going to let her girlfriend go that easily…

“NOTHING DOESN’T EXIST.”

The most impressive part of this story isn’t just the way it presents Esperanza’s world to us, but in the subtle ways that it introduces her world and then shows us how it’s changing.  The subtle alterations start early on and continue throughout the issue, and the structure of the story makes it worth multiple reads to get it all.  Visaggio’s dialogue is also really sharp, even when the characters are discussing in-depth theories of magic that readers haven’t been introduced to yet, and every character has his or her own specific voice.  The use of Esperanza’s transition as part and parcel of this story about change is very well handled as well, and adds another layer to the story.  Becca Farrow’s art is likewise subtle and full of character, conveying subtle changes in body language or facial expression.  (Esperanza’s revelation half-way through the issue that she doesn’t remember ever quitting is a full-page splash, and a gorgeous one at that.)  I also like the color palette in this issue, leaning on Earth-tones but not afraid to break out a bright pastel as necessary, giving the events a dream-like quality that still feels realistic.

BOTTOM LINE: A FASCINATING, MULTI-LAYERED READ

This comic is about change, about identity and about the unexpected moments where you realize you aren’t who you used to be and it makes for a really good reading experience.  Sex Death Revolution #1 has a killer title, excellent art and an engaging premise, with a talented creative team taking on a very personal story, earning 4.5 out of 5 stars overall.  It’s a double-sized package well worth the double-sized pricetag and it feels like there’s much more than 52 pages of story in this issue.