Digital Review: The Arcane #1

By Author: Aaron Clutter
Total Articles: 2
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The newest digital release from Titanium Comics is an interesting blend of the mystical and the Western, The Arcane #1. I was impressed with their first offering last week, Age of Darkness #1, but this new book was a completely different kind of awesome. Created by Don McLiam and written by Andy Wolfendon, The Arcane is a really interesting story about a son who finds out a sinister truth about his father and his world will never be the same.

The town of Canaan’s Sorrow, a dusty town in the Wild West, is the setting for the beginning of this first issue. A quick review of the townspeople in the lone saloon, and, of course, a bar fight that spills into the streets continue until the fight is cut short as four dark riders cast their shadows over the town. The riders announce they are looking for the keepers of the books and proceed to blow massive holes in the front of the hotel.

Quinn, the female owner of the saloon and mother of Phenal, addresses the townspeople hiding in the church. She states the only help against these shadow monsters is Jeremiah Arcane, a man virtually run out of town for his mystical powers. ...
... Quinn knows he has the answers, so she takes her son and rides to the homestead of Jeremiah’s mother, a full two days from town.

This begins a landslide of information, as it is revealed that Phenal is Jeremiah’s son. Then, as Jeremiah reveals himself, his mother hands him a letter that sets off the dynamite. Jeremiah was only one of five sons that his father had with different women because of a deal that he almost made with the devil over complications with the birth of his first son. The research that he had done on mystical symbols allowed him access to realms and powers that no mortal man should possess. Also, his actions attracted the attention of a very nasty character, the devil himself.

Never the one to be cheated of a deal, the devil was none to happy with Mr. Arcane cheating him of a soul. Instead, he offers to give Arcane his daughter, Lilith. Arcane declines and the devil takes his book and his wife and curses Arcane and all his bloodline. So, each child has a certain connection to the supernatural.

With all of this new knowledge, Jeremiah is now charged with bringing all of his brothers together, each with their own special abilities. Joseph, Joshua, and John joined Jeremiah the next day, but they still had one brother to collect. After a long ride, they were able to summon the last brother, Jesus Arcane, at a small church on the Mexican border. After that it was back to Canaan’s Sorrow to deal with the shadow riders.

That is only the first half of this great story, but I am going to recommend that you go to their Facebook page and pick this one up to see the action packed second half. I love the art and the story is really solid. The use of the letter and flashback images sets the tone for this tale as the brothers will have to learn to lean on each other as they confront whatever Hell can throw at them. The Arcane #1 is definitely another great showing from Titanium Comics and I look forward to what next week brings.

http://www.comicbooked.com/digital-review-the-arcane-1/

Aaron has been reading comics since he was in 5th grade. He only had children so he could still buy comics and toys without looking like a nerd. Most of the things he buys are never touched by his kids. He has a vast collection of stuff that his wife constantly complains about.http://www.facebook.com/ti.comics.thearcane