Vault Comics have been one of our favourite publishers thanks to books like Friendo, These Savage Shores and Queen of Bad Dreams. This week, we check out another of their new releases, She Said Destroy #1, which follows the beginning of a battle between two Gods and their followers. Can this comic become one worshipped for all time or will it fade into obscurity?

Publisher: Vault Comics
Writer: Joe Corallo
Artist: Llana Kangas (Pencils), Rebecca Nalty (colours), Melanie Ujimori (Letters)
Price: $3.99 from Vault Comics

She said Destroy tells the story of two groups of people on a collision course over their beliefs. The first, who worship Brigid, God of the Sun, have taken over the entire solar system and destroyed the memory of many of Brigid’s fellow Gods in order for her to become the most powerful of them all. However, Brigid’s dominion over the hearts and minds of all has one small obstacle left; Morrigan, Goddess of Death, Brigid’s sister and the only other God remaining whose worshippers, the Witches of Fey maintain one last colony hidden in the vastness of space. However, Brigid and her people have finally located this last refuge of Morrigan and have set about the task to raze the land and convert it’s people. However, when the Witches turn to Morrigan for her guidance the war looks set to begin when she says ‘Destroy’.

She said Destroy is an interesting title as, while the idea of battle between two sides is a common trope, rarely is it seen from a more religious or faith-based standpoint. Indeed, Joe Corallo has set up some quite intriguing ideas in this first issue as we are introduced to both the witches of Fey and their God Morrigan and the Light Knights from the Inspiration which follows Brigid. These two sides appear to maintain a contrast which seems similar to the idea of Faith vs. Science, whereby the magical Witches take on that faith role and Brigid’s forces, with their large numbers and space travel technology, imbue a more scientific slant.

Beyond that, however, this issue does feel like something of a struggle to become invested in, with much of the issue coming across as overly (though maybe necessarily) exposition and setup heavy. Sadly, on top of this, none of the characters, chiefly seeming protagonist Winona, come across as really heavily fleshed out and leads to a point where it is difficult to see which side is meant to be the one we should rout for. Of course, this could all be down to opening issue problems and, with the ‘faff’ out of the way, the story and characters can better develop.

On the other hand, Llana Kangas makes up for the title’s shortcomings with some truly gorgeous art. Kangas’ style, which on the surface looks to have pencils which are a little incomplete, actually comes across as this very ethereal, dreamlike tone to the book. This look, which has a reminiscence to 7String and I am Hexed, is enhanced by Rebecca Nalty’s gorgeous light colours, which gives the story this rather bright, optimistic look despite the darker theme the story looks set to have.

Despite some very obvious problems in this first issue, She Said Destroy feels like a comic which is brimming with potential in its future. I honestly believe that now this issue has gotten passed the set-up of the story, that it can tell us a truly epic story to couple with this breathtakingly lovely artwork.