Bug Wars

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In 2018, it was revealed that Marvel Comics had obtained the license to create fresh comics featuring Conan the Barbarian, a legendary fantasy character created by Robert E. Howard. The writing duties were given to Jason Aaron, artwork to Mahmud Asrar, and coloring to Matthew Wilson, who began a new “Conan the Barbarian” comic series in January 2019. However, Marvel’s revival of Conan comics was brief-lasting only for a 12-issue run at the start. Despite this, the series was well-received by fans, prompting Marvel to work together again for the six-issue “King Conan” series in 2022, which concluded Marvel’s second stint as publisher of Conan’s comic stories.

Bug Wars“, published by Image Comics, brings together Aaron, Asrar, Wilson, and letterer Becca Carey in a creative collaboration. With their past work, readers might anticipate that “Bug Wars” will blend the sword-and-sorcery genre of Conan with insect-scale characters, much like how Pixar’s “A Bug’s Life” reinterpreted Akira Kurosawa’s “Seven Samurai”. However, there’s more to it than that. The comic also reinvent the concept from the family film “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids”, presenting it as a gritty, violent power fantasy instead. In issue #1 of “Bug Wars”, one of these aspects is more captivating than the other.

In the opening of “Bug Wars” #1, we find ourselves in a setting known as The Yard, tucked away in a typical backyard belonging to a human household. Unbeknownst to humans, this seemingly tranquil area is a battleground where intense battles are waged. The beetle berserkers, acting like the Visigoths against Rome’s walls, launch relentless attacks on an anthill kingdom. However, these clashes occur at a miniature scale that could easily be contained within a terrarium.

Essentially, the Yard is larger than any single conflict or feuding neighboring groups. A sequence of six panels spanning two pages introduces various factions within the Yard, with captions mimicking handwriting to imply they were documented by someone able to interact with humans. However, the illustrations show these insect habitats as seen through human eyes, which creates an intriguing air of mystery. In a short time, the creative team constructs a world that suggests thrilling exploration, home to intelligent bugs, similar to stories like “Mouse Guard” and “The Mice Templar,” though with a clear focus on insects rather than mice.

Instead of typical tales, “Bug Wars” focuses on human characters, with their role within the Yard being crucial to the narrative. The Slaymaker family (yes, you guessed it) are relocating to a house bordering the Yard. This move isn’t easy considering that this is the same residence where Sydney Slaymaker, the elder of two sons, found his entomologist father dead, appearing to have been partly devoured by the insects he was researching. The demise of the Slaymaker boys’ father had different effects on Sydney and his younger brother, Slade Slaymaker.

After experiencing trauma, Sydney developed a deep-seated fear and loathing towards insects. On the other hand, Slade, who has no recollection of his father, appears to have inherited his fascination with bugs as a means to connect with the father he never knew. Despite their contrasting backgrounds, both brothers exhibit extreme behaviors in their expressions; while shy and introverted Slade seems to talk incessantly about insects throughout the comic, Sydney – who sports long hair, jeans, and a plain black t-shirt reminiscent of heavy metal culture – takes his distaste for bugs to an extreme by nailing one to his front door as a warning to other insects. This single-minded obsession, coupled with graphic scenes, excessive profanity, and a lack of depth, gives the human characters in the Bug Wars series a somewhat immature or juvenile feel.

In essence, “Bug Wars” explores the intersection of human and insect realms, subtly hinting at a deeper mystery surrounding the death of Slaymaker’s father and his connection to the enigmatic Yard. The first issue intriguingly suggests that one of Slaymaker’s sons is embarking on the same path, revealing clues about his father and the world of the Yard as the series unfolds. This narrative setup shares similarities with Tom King, Bilquis Evely, and Matheus Lopez’s praised fantasy series “Helen of Wyndhorn,” although it has a more robust, gory visual style and emphasizes gruesome details. The debut issue concludes with a moment of violent self-empowerment, implying that the protagonist’s growth and confrontation with his newfound grisly abilities will be central themes as “Bug Wars” progresses.

The story Bug Wars seems to explore how a father’s absence and hidden past can significantly impact a son’s destiny. While the idea holds promise, it’s yet to be determined if the creators will successfully blend these elements without resorting excessively to juvenile violence.

Published by Image Comics

On February 12, 2025

Written by Jason Aaron

Art by Mahmud Asrar

Colors by Matthew Wilson

Letters by Becca Carey

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2025-02-12 19:10