Tom Taylor, writer
Daniele Di Nicuolo, artist
Walter Baiamonte and Katia Ranalli, colorists
Ed Dukeshire, letterer
Boom
$3.99
What do you get when you combine the seminal talents of writer Tom Taylor and artist Daniele Di Nicuolo? If Boom! Studios’ Seven Secrets #1 is any indicator, the result is an absolute blast.
Things start with a bang -literally- as we witness the end of a battle between two secret societies. Spoiler alert: It doesn’t look like the good guys win this one, the bad guys have their hands on a Secret, and that means an extinction-level event might be right round the corner. After that things unfurl via multiple extended flashbacks, which are focused on Sigurd and Eva.
The two, it turns out, are a Keeper and Holder in service to the enigmatic Order. The exact details Keepers and Holders are still little fuzzy, but they’re paired off in teams devoted to protecting the book’s eponymous Secrets. Exactly what these Secrets are and what they can do is also a mystery, but the Order has been keeping them out of the wrong hands for centuries. This time, though, it looks like the wrong hands might grab hold.
Taylor’s worldbuilding is great, providing us with just enough details that the reader’s satisfied while simultaneously wanting to know more. There’s not a wasted word, nor a pointless panel to distract us. Di Nicuolo’s art pairs beautifully, too: His character designs and action sequences are simultaneously bold and vivid. Everything about the issue feels like someone mashed up an anime series with narrative elements from Brian K Vaughn’s Saga (which is only meant as a compliment).
As beginnings go, you could certainly do worse than Seven Secrets. The story is fast and frantic, but with several solid twists and a cliffhanger that begs to be continued. Here’s hoping the rest of the series is this much fun.
Mike Thompson is a writer living in Northern California. He spends much of his time running, baking, and desperately scrounging for another cup of coffee. Feel free to follow him on Twitter and Instagram.