At the turn of the 20th century, a prodigious young girl named Lumen will face a world of adventure, after her lessons, of course. Your Major Spoilers review of The Adventures of Lumen N #1 awaits!

THE ADVENTURES OF LUMEN N #1

Writer: James Robinson
Artist: Phil Hester
Colorist: Bill Crabtree
Letterer: Jim Campbell
Editor: Daniel Chabon
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: September 3rd, 2025

Previously in The Adventures of Lumen N: The year is 1901, and our heroine Lumen is a precocious 13-year-old with many questions about her life. Why has her father been gone for years? Why must she learn so many languages and fighting techniques, and what’s with all the lessons in seafaring?

A LIFE OF MYSTERY

The Adventures of Lumen N #1 begins on a mysterious island, where a mechanical tomb suddenly opens, revealing a mummy. Elsewhere in India, a young girl is hiding in a tree when an older woman comes looking for her. After she admonishes Lumen for her clothes and not being ready for lessons, she relents and lets her and her friends continue their game, but not before having a brief heart-to-heart about Lumen’s father. On top of a train in Scotland, a pair of men confront a trio working for someone named Nicola. Back in India, Lumen writes in her journal, when suddenly her home is attacked by a group of armed men with robots. While she tries her best to stay away from the attackers, she’s eventually cornered when a surprising visitor arrives.

A MEMORABLE OPENER

It doesn’t take long for The Adventures of Lumen N #1 to establish the series as a quality addition to the retro, pulp-inspired adventure series subgenre. It’s also a solidly all-ages book, which is always nice to see. A lot of the quality here comes from the quickness and liveliness with which the plot moves. At no point in this comic does anything linger or feel unnecessary, even the quick little asides are, or at least feel like they’re setting up something later. Even in the quieter moments, the reader is getting a good crash course in the main character’s history and personality and the questions that drive her. Then, when the action hits, we get a good glimpse at the inventiveness and imaginative nature of the universe. While we do get some insight into Lumen, there’s not quite enough here to differentiate her from a lot of other hyper-competent young characters that have popped up in various other properties and creations. Also, while there are a few lingering items creating intrigue for upcoming issues, there isn’t much done to connect them, so, for now, some parts of this issue feel like abstract additions from other stories completely.

BIG, BOLD, AND VIBRANT

Less is more definitely appears to be the story behind the visuals in The Adventures of Lumen N #1, except in the places where it’s not. For much of the issue, the art is very broadly done, characters are made up of a few shapes and details when it comes to their faces and bodies, but then something like the ruffles in pants or jewelry on an arm is given a lot of detail. Also, as mentioned above, this is an imaginative world, and the parts that show this off the most, like the golden elephant towards the end or the tomb at the beginning, are some of the best moments in this comic. This creates a striking style that pairs well with the vibrant and deep coloring. All of this really pops in the moments when the background is stripped awa,y leaving only a white void for the characters and action to sit on.

BOTTOM LINE: THIS IS SETTING THE BAR HIGH FOR THE SERIES

While it might not have had the most intricate openings or presented the reader with a deeply complex puzzle, The Adventures of Lumen N #1 kicked the series off with a fast-moving and exciting opener. The main character isn’t given much time to establish what makes her unique, but she’s likable and fun. The issue is also visually stunning without having to try too hard to do it. All in all, this is a solid pickup, especially if you’re looking for something all-ages or just a little more on the lighthearted side of things. 4.5 out of 5 stars.

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