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Sectaurs #1 Review (Oni Press)


Sectaurs #1 Review (Oni Press)

About Sectaurs #1


Writer: Dennis Culver

Artist: Ramon Bachs

Colorist: Manoli Martinez

Letterer: Taylor Esposito


Publisher: Oni Press

Release date: October 23rd, 2024



Sectaurs #1 - Cover A

Sectaurs #1 Recap


Sectaurs reign supreme on the planet Symbion. Split into two warring factions; the Shining Realm and the Dark Domain, the two of them waged war and fought needlessly until King Markor of the Shining Realm brokered a peace treaty with the Dark Domain’s Emperor Slane.


But in this story, King Markor has slipped into a coma, leaving his subjects to cease all communication with the Dark Domain. A ruling council was formed until Prince Dargon came of age to eventually take the throne. Now, with that time upon us, Dargon looks to finally take on the mantle of his father, the kingdom of the Shining Realm and their family traditions.


As Prince Dargon spars with two palace guards, Mantor and Galken look on from a balcony, as the Prince stands his ground. Deep in conversation, Galken worries that Dargon won’t be ready for The Swarm of Sovereigns. An upcoming event that will renew the truce between the Shining Realm and Dark Domain. The talk descends into what if’s and the question of who will take Prince Dargon’s place if he’s not up to the challenge. A shadow falls over Galken as his friend, Mantor, looks on him with disbelief, confident the training he’s been putting the Prince through will sway any doubts Galken has and will meet the challenge head on.


Later that day, Prince Dargon faces the challenge of telebonding with a large and flying bug-like steed. Distracted and thinking of a time when his father, the King, would pass on pearls of wisdom, the Insectoid steed bucks and throws Dargon from up high in the air to land on his back in the middle of a barren wasteland. It’s here where Dargon really begins to doubt himself and how he doesn’t necessarily want or seek to rule. Leaving Mantor to all but blame him for dragging his feet in his training and wishing to only go on adventures instead of being burdened with the mantle of King. This is why he has trouble telebonding with his steed but to persist because it wouldn’t be hovering around like it is if it didn’t want to telebonding with him. Causing Dargon to leap back into action and try again.


Sectaurs #1 - Preview Page 1
Mantor and Galken look on as Prince Dargon trains with two soldiers

Meanwhile at the Grimhold Fortress in the Dark Domain, Slane is forced to deal with an insurrection of his followers led by his Empress and Commander Waspax. With his Empress having gone clearly insane, she speaks of a Great Insectoid God giving her visions of what’s to come and how they must devour the kingdom of The Shining Realm to gain the knowledge of the Hyves. As they attack the lord of the Dark Domain, Slane is forced to defend himself and the battle looks to go in his favour, until an insect with a large stinger strikes Slane in the back, causing him to go down, at Commander Waspax’s order. Bringing Slane down to his knees.


With all this happening, Prince Dargon eventually learns how to telebond with his steed and effect a landing from mid-flight to stationary on the ground. Well, sort of. As his best friend and knight of the realm, Zak, appears and they exchange a few laughs. They decide to celebrate the Prince’s attempts at telebonding. A moment which is even strongly encouraged by his teacher, Mantor.


As the Prince and his Shining Realm go off to celebrate, Slane, still injured, is engaged in a mortal battle with Commander Waspax. Managing to hold the Commander at bay, Slane’s son, Skulk, charges at Slane atop a giant tarantula. Stopping Commander Waspax from landing a killing blow but Skulk is then ordered by the Empress to stand down. With plans for her husband to be kept in a dark prison within the Grimhold Fortress so he can be forced to watch the Empress and her forces devour the Shining Realm and destroy the peace which Slane has spent his entire life trying to protect. The Empress promising to then return so she can kill Slane with his own blade. Slane vowing that his General will put an end to this.


While the Prince and his followers return to the palace after celebrating, they’re interrupted by the sudden appearance of henchmen Bodyball, Scorpio and Skito who are there to take out Prince Dargon. Zak throws himself between Bodyball and the Prince, with the other knights doing the same, allowing time for Dargon to call Dragonflyer and escape. Thinking he’s made a clean getaway, he’s pulled off his steed with a whip wrapped around his neck, by the dreaded General Spidrax.


Sectaurs #1 - Preview Page 2
The Empress threatens Slane as she promises to usurp his throne!

Sectaurs #1 Review


Writer Dennis Culver and artist Ramon Bachs do an incredible job at tapping into the very nostalgia that cartoons like He-Man and the Masters of the Universe instil in us all. Stylistically, Bach’s artwork will insert you into a world that feels both familiar and alien, all the same time.


But there are elements of this tale which take cue from well-known intellectual properties like Dune; for the unwilling Prince Dargon who would be king trope and its rebellion, Avatar; for the telebonding experience of binding a rider to its animal (or insect), and for 80s cartoons as a whole; due to the stylistic choice in Martinez’s colours, Bach’s artwork and the storyline which boasts a lot of heart - due to its bold expressiveness.


The light versus dark motif that has been the focus of many American media since the dawn of time is definitely there. Although, made a little more complex with the political upheaval as different factions vie for control on this alien world. Sectaurs #1 is incredibly enjoyable, rich in characters, well-established in its storyline and deserves to be held up in the light with its science fiction/science fantasy peers.


Score: 9/10

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