Review by Ian Keogh

Death Orb is an entry into the canon of stories about the lone hero facing impossible odds to complete a quest in a dystopian future. We never learn the name of the guy who takes on everything thrown at him, but as drawn by Ryan Ferrier he sure looks cool in his motorcycle goggles and leather jacket swinging his axe.

Actually, pretty well everything drawn by Ferrier looks cool from the creepy psuedo-religious cult to the patched together technology, and his art is the main reason for taking a look at Death Orb. It’s sketchy, but kinetic with creative designs, and the patchwork look of loose wires and piping creating uneven structures results in some memorable pages.

Unfortunately Alejandro Aragon’s writing doesn’t match Ferrier’s imagination. Mad Max is an obvious influence as the protagonist follows one clue to the next in his search for his wife, in each location picking up allies after first fighting them, and unaware he’s of interest to the cult’s mastermind. That’s all well and good, but Aragon makes no effort to invite readers into his world. There’s no necessity for an explanation as to how it came about, but some hint as to purpose and motivation would have gone a long way to improving Death Orb.

It further doesn’t help that Aragon’s dialogue isn’t greatly considered either. Too often characters speak to the audience, not each other, and the faux Bibilical soundbites work occasionally, but not when they’re almost one character’s only dialogue. Relentless sadism is also off-putting.

Ferrier is very good, but Death Orb lacks too much otherwise. This was set up for a sequel, but the lack of it tells you everything you need to know.