Review by Ian Keogh

Covenant is a deceptive graphic novel, beginning almost dripping gothic horror clichés, yet developing into something complex, in its best moments having a captivating emotional depth.

Lysandra Vuong sets her story on a world where being a priest carries a physical combat responsibility rather than one of spiritual healing. It’s a world infested with demons, and the initiated are tattooed with mystical protection, yet this is a divided church, and some consider it’s the protectors responsible for an increase in demonic activity. The focus is on Ezra, a man of wavering faith, yet visited in dreams by the angel Gabriel. He’s capable, but distracted, and eventually supplied with a mission. Before then Vuong creates her world and its schisms.

Artistically Covenant presents strong figures operating within minimal backgrounds. Vuong represents the world largely in strong light and dark shade with colour highlights, forming extremely attractive pages. People are largely in black, and distinguished by costume and look rather than their similar facial features.

The world and the schisms within it are well presented. In story terms there are definitely sympathies with one viewpoint, but the other can also be understood, and that gives Covenant depth even before considering how real world differences are reflected. The spiritual discussions also have a resonance, not least that a man who doesn’t believe in god can only be a force for good within an organisation holding that belief as central.

When Ezra’s mission is clarified there’s an awkward period, first when he attempts to make contact with Sunny in a way that couldn’t be more off-putting if intended as such, and then as the narrative switches to follow Sunny. Even if presuming a certain naivety in someone who’s spent a secluded spiritual life, the contact doesn’t ring true, and Sunny’s background could have formed interludes rather than just dropping him into events two-thirds of the way through. The back cover mentions queer romance, but the possibility is merely foreshadowed in this volume.

Add in a far too abrupt ending, and it’s apparent that Covenant is an ongoing learning process for Vuong, but there’s far more good than poor, the promise is immense, and the ambition makes it worth sticking around as what’s to come is likely to be better.