It’s time to tell the story of Nyx and how we got to where we are today. So, let’s take a trip back to an early point in the Spawn timeline, and discover how the past will shape our future.

Black Ritual: The Book of Nyx #1

Written By Thomas Healy – Art & Colors By Nat Jones

Letters By Andworld Design – Edited By Thomas Healy

Published By Image Comics

***Minor Spoilers Possible***

Let’s Go Back in Time

The issue opens with Nyx with some help from Cyan defeating Mammon and Morana. Nyx, who is being guided by Spawn from the future now has protected Al’s wife and daughter. Cyan is happy to have Nyx as her protector, but here mother sends Nyx away.

Meanwhile, a few days later in NYC, a young witch named Maya feels as she is being stalked. Before long, her paranoia is proven right as she is being followed and then chased through the alleys of NYC. It is revealed that her hunter is none other than The Puritan, and he traps her at a dead end. Even though Maya tries to fight back, it is to no avail.

Later that same night Nyx makes her return to the NYC. She pays no mind to the spell that will let all the shadowed world of New York know she has re-entered the city. Nyx may not care that she is being followed and watched. However, the visions she has after settling down at a café certainly scare her.

A Shadowy Homecoming

The first issue of this new Spawn line is very interesting and informative all at once. This story takes place around Spawn #184 and yet ties into what’s happening in the current story arc. Thomas Healy does a great job of bringing the reader up to speed where we are in the timeline, while also teasing the familiarity of where we are in the present timeline. This is a tough line to walk, so it’s a big feather in the cap to pull it off.

The art is wonderful and brings that familiar world of Spawn to life in a big way. Nat Jones nails the character designs and the magnificent settings/backgrounds. The color scheme that is chosen for the story is also fantastic. Using darker colors, along with blues and greens gives you the feeling of the world and lets the reader know that we are in a dark and depressing place.

Check Out My Review of Bug Wars #2

Final Thoughts

Black Ritual: The Book of Nyx #1 is a great start to this latest Spawn spinoff. Telling an important story from the past, that is directly influencing what is happening in the present is a risky move. However, issue one delivers a great pallet to build on. If you enjoy Spawn, you need to grab a copy of this at your LCS and add this one to your Pull List at the same time.

Overall Grade: 9/10

For more of my content, make sure to check out 3fnpodcast.com and Subscribe to Nerd Initiative YouTube for episodes of Turn a Page and Wrestling Night Live! Later! Comic! Fans!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.