Review: Genecy
An extremely feared and militaristic nation, proudly recognised as the Grunnod, has stolen freedom, joy and fortune from an entire galaxy. They are in search of an ancient artifact from a long, forgotten time. It is believed to unlock a door to an immense and immeasurable power...
Kaizaxx is from the planet Tanaan, a world that fell to the despotic Grunnod empire. He and his entire race are enslaved by the invaders, lost without hope until intervention by the mysterious robed figure Geshemah, who leads a massive rescue. The plan to evacuate forty thousand Tanaanian slaves is brutally crushed by the Grunnod, who shoot the ships out of the sky. There is only one survivor...
As their ship dies, Geshemah passes Kaizaxx a glowing green staff saying "It is the reason why your people are shackled..."
In that moment, Geshemah is revealed to be one of the Grunnod. Why is he working against his own people? Kaizaxx has no time to ponder this question, however: no sooner does he take hold of the mysterious staff than he is teleported away from the falling ship, finding himself in a barren desert on an unfamiliar planet. The glowing staff leads him through sandstorms to a majestic, ancient dome. What destiny lies within?
Genecy from writer Gerald Cooper and artist Eddy Barrows is the beginning of a saga of legendary proportions. There is no moment to catch your breath as the story leaps from one crisis to the next in quick succession. Our hero is thrown into one challenge after another in preparation for his dramatic transformation into a super-powered hero by a god-like cosmic being (shades of Silver Surfer/Galactus but with a very different agenda).
It is a blend of sci-fi with the mystical, Kaizaxx and his people resembling Conan the Barbarian, and powerful ancient technology indistinguishable from magic. The text is poetic in style, as if channeling a Viking epic, fitting for the grandiose narrative.
In a postscript Cooper says "There are certain moments in life that you'll remember because those were the moments that blew your mind... I want you to say WOW!" That love of the spectacular comes across vibrantly in a story that is driven by relentless action, high drama, battle after battle and dizzying perspectives.
Barrows renders each scene with the appropriate emotional tone of high-stakes, do-or-die desperation, our muscled hero pitted against a variety of savage opponents. Laser beams or battle axes, space battles or demonic fisticuffs, it is all delivered with the same blaze and polish.
This is an adrenaline rush that should blast away any winter doldrums hanging around your head, and promises more excitement to come.
Zak Webber
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