"Demon Days: X-Men #1" Comic Review

Witness an entirely new take on the Marvel Universe in Demon Days from writer / artist Peach Momoko. The creator takes us back to a time when humans and Yokai walked the earth together in a delicate balance. That balance was disrupted as humans spread further and further into the Yokai territory, threatening their way of life and forcing the two sides to come to blows. This opening tale takes a look at the story of Kirisaki Mountain.

I'm a sucker for alternate takes on existing super heroes, so I was immediately drawn to Demon Days. It helps that it's such a visually stunning book and a bit on the spooky side. Momoko takes the archetypes of classic Marvel characters like Psylocke, Wolverine, and Venom and puts them through this fascinating lens for a wholly new version. Some are easy to spot, like the big red Hulk-like Oni, while others are more subtle, like Tsuki, who is an interpretation of a popular mutant. All of them maintain their core essence while standing as unique characters separate from their 616 counterparts.

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Momoko's artwork is absolutely amazing. It captures the setting and time period perfectly in a beautiful painted style. It conveys a sense of peace and tranquility that is quickly invaded by the Great Snake known as Venom. The tone shifts when the symbiote hits the page, going from warm, welcoming colors, to darkness and evil. It's like this is a virus that's infected the host.

Venom is definitely my favorite part of Demon Days: X-Men, appearing more as a force of nature than as a man in a gooey suit. The symbiote has latched on to a giant snake, amplifying its features with a huge jaw full of sharp teeth and the signature writhing tongue. The battle against this creature is fierce. Momoko offers a varied panel layout that adds to the intensity of the conflict.

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Letterer Ariana Maher matches the dialogue and captions up perfectly with the mood of the book. The word balloons are shown in an off-white or faded yellow to convey speech coming from a long time ago. The caption boxes look like they're excerpts from an ancient scroll.

If this first issues is any indication, we are in for a real treat with Demon Days. I would gladly read an ongoing series set in this world, as there's so much to dig into. The fact that it has a horror bend to it is a definite plus. This is a riveting and gorgeously illustrated beginning to what I hope is many more stories in this setting. We know there's at least four more to go and I can't wait to see what they have in store.