A deep-seated tradition calls for the periodic sacrifice of one child per family. While religion deems it to be vital, that does not make it easy for anyone. But is this tradition truly necessary? Find out in The Sacrificers #1 from Image Comics!

THE SACRIFICERS #1

Writer: Rick Remender
Artist: Max Fiumara
Colorist: Dave McCaig
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: August 2, 2023

Previously in The Sacrificers: Tomorrow is the perfect world, kept that way by the small price of one child per family. But what will happen if something upsets this balance, and if someone dares to disagree with custom?

WELCOME TO A NEW WORLD

The Sacrificers #1 opens in the evening on a farm. Against this peaceful backdrop, we hear the intonation of a prayer thanking the Great Fathers and Mothers for the perfect and harmonious world that is theirs in return for obedience and sacrifice. A family of humanoid birds is seated around the table as the father leads this prayer. This world is not ours, but it is not unfamiliar.

A noise at the window interrupts. It is a young man, and it turns out this is one of the sons. But instead of living with the others, he is banished to the barn. For making himself visible to the family like this, his father storms out of the house, scolds him, and beats him. Why this hostility? Why is he singled out? But at least he is not completely unloved – his little sister sneaks out at night and gives him food she tucked into her pocket at dinner, and she thanks him for some reason.

The scene shifts to inside a castle where a young woman with flaming hair grudgingly studies history. Her skin is grayish, and on her face, there is a lighter mark in the shape of a crescent moon. A bell rings in the distance, and she runs from the library and down to a doorway. In the room beyond, Rokos converses with his mistress, Xia. She is getting jealous of the time he is spending with his wife, Luna. But the Rejuvenation is at hand, and a gala. For this, he must keep up appearances.

Rokos is also aware of the eavesdropper, his daughter Soluna. She is now eighteen and wants to join the gala. He insists she must wait until she is older. He only seeks to protect her. What could be so dangerous about a celebration? She storms out, declaring she is determined to get what she wants. But Rokos must start his work for the day. With much grinding of gears and movement of blazing plasma, it looks like his job is starting up the sun.

Dawn comes to the farm. The mother sniffles into her pillow. Couldn’t their son have had one meal in the house with his family? The father goes downstairs and sits in silence. Then the smaller children see something out the window. A couple of strange beings are there with several children in irons. One of them, perhaps a priest of sorts, says it is time for the harvest. The father states they have no sacrifice to give – he died. But he is stared down. He brings the boy from the barn. It is a difficult parting. Even though he has been ostracized, none of the family really wants him to go. But the only other option would be to give up a different child.

BEAUTIFULLY ENGAGING

The art of The Sacrificers #1 is breathtaking. From the opening page, we know it is set on another world. We recognize a farm when we see it, but the architecture and style are different, and soon we see that the people are as well. The avian folk are a soft shade of blue. They are humanoid to the extent that they have hands instead of wings. Facial expressions are challenging to draw on an avian face, but eyes and body language are used to great effect to communicate the deep feelings within the family.

Rokos’s castle is also a combination of the familiar and the alien. Books, scrolls, tapestries, and paintings are all things we understand. Soluna’s purring pet looks for all the world like a miniature woolly mammoth. At first, the girl’s hair just looks red, but as she moves through the corridors and we see the familial portraits, it looks more like flame, which is confirmed when we see her father. He appears to be entirely composed of fire with garments and a facial mask floating on the outside surface. Another thing I really like about the design is the steampunk vibe of the castle – it is full of elegant machinery.

BOTTOM LINE: A BEAUTIFUL WORLD WITH A TRAGIC TRADITION

The Sacrificers #1 immerses us in the world and allows us to slowly absorb it while we puzzle out the horrifying story below the surface. How high a price would people be willing to pay in exchange for peace and prosperity, and is that price truly worth it?

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