There are low stakes, high stakes, and the sort of stakes that are on the line for professional gambler, Hudson. Your Major Spoilers review of Arcana Royale #1 from Dark Horse Comics awaits!
ARCANA ROYALE #1
Writer: Cullen Bunn
Artist: A.C. Zamudio
Colorist: Bill Crabtree
Letterer: Joshua Reed
Editor: Daniel Chabon
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: April 23rd, 2025
Previously in Arcana Royale: Hudson Tremaine is a streetwise gambler who has siphoned money from every high-stakes game in Vegas. When she is invited to play in the most underground card tournaments of all-the Arcanos Mysterinos-she realizes the stakes are higher than she ever imagined possible.
DEAL ‘EM
Arcana Royale #1 opens with Hudson sitting at a table as the latest hand of a strange card game featuring tarot cards is dealt. After some betting, she goes all in and walks away the winner. She’s warned by a mysterious woman that winning the way that she did ruffled some feathers. Things then jump back in time and show how Hudson was originally approached by a group of people trying to get her into this mysterious card tournament called The Arcano Mysterinos. In the present, Hudson is informed of the next round of the tournament via a tiny monster with a card. During the next round, it’s revealed that the stakes the players are playing for are the fates of people, and when Hudson once again does well, she’s confronted by one of those people whose feathers she has ruffled.
SPARSE BUT POTENT
If there’s one word that could be used to describe Arcane Royale #1, it would be lean. Thankfully, I get more than one word. The whole vibe of this issue is being slick and keeping things moving. No dialogue or narration is used to share backstory or details about what’s going on. All of that is done visually and via some poetic interpretation. Instead, the dialogue is all about establishing how everyone involved with this mysterious game are smooth operators and none more so than the main character, Hudson. It was a good choice not to linger on having Hudson being introduced to the game or the supernatural because those really don’t come across as the important elements of the story. There are a few moments early on though, where things feel cliché, especially with some of the cool cat nihilism Hudson’s narration is peddling, stuff like “everything’s a gamble.” Still, it does manage to move away from that and the overall premise is enough to lift it out of that rut.
DRIPPING IN STYLE
Arcade Royale #1 is a delight to look at. While there’s plenty to enjoy from the character designs, especially some of the more eccentric-looking card players. Where this issue really excels though, are the page layouts and the way that things seamlessly switch between the present and past without any need for narration boxes. Even though the main action is just a group of people playing cards, the way that scenes are interjected and the way panel size and shape bring emphasis to specific things, gives this issue a feeling of motion you might not expect.
BOTTOM LINE: A COMIC THAT LIVES UP TO ITS PROMISES
Arcana Royale #1 has been advertised as “Rounders meets Sandman” and that has proven to be a very apt description of what you get in this issue. You might not know exactly what’s going on, the lingo, or the rules of the game, but that’s not what you’re here for. It’s to see these characters duel each other via cards and wagers. The supernatural elements add an extra level of intrigue and mystery, but even without all of that, this would be a fun issue to look at and read. 4 out of 5 stars.
Dear Spoilerite,
At Major Spoilers, we strive to create original content that you find interesting and entertaining. Producing, writing, recording, editing, and researching requires significant resources. We pay writers, podcast hosts, and other staff members who work tirelessly to provide you with insights into the comic book, gaming, and pop culture industries. Help us keep MajorSpoilers.com strong. Become a Patron (and our superhero) today.
Arcana Royale #1
Arcana Royale #1 is a slick and stylish comic that manages to take the vibes of movies like Rounders and Maverick and combine them in an interesting way with supernatural elements. Some clever page layout and usage of panel give this comic a sense of motion that you wouldn’t expect as well.
-
Writing
-
Art
-
Coloring
At a young age, Jonathan was dragged to a small town in Wisconsin. A small town in Wisconsin that just so happened to have a comic book shop. Faced with a decision to either spend the humid summers and bitter winters traipsing through the pine trees or in climate controlled comfort with tales of adventure, horror, and romance, he chose the latter. Jonathan can often be found playing video games, board games, reading comics and wincing as his “to watch” list grows wildly out of control.