This review will have spoilers from the last issue of Die. You have been warned.
Issue #1 did well to establish a game between friends that became more than just a game. The friends entered the game and disappeared for years. They returned with actual physical damage from the “fantasy” world, and one person didn’t even make it back. I personally thought that one of the party members had died.
At the end of issue #1 we learn that he may not have died, but that he may have been living in the game all these years. And, we discovered this because the rest of the party had to go back into the game. Issue 2 starts off with us learning exactly what happened to Sol. And, why he’s been trapped in the game for 30 years.
And, mild spoiler, but to add to the party’s grief upon finding Sol they discover that he’s more or less a NPC with game mind now. The party tries to talk to him and reason with him, but it’s as if he’s stuck in a loop that you can’t skip in a video game cut scene. Once Sol dramatically exits the party gets a greeting from another familiar face.
And, this is where readers learn all kinds of little tricks about the wold of Geas. And, not only the world, but each party member’s class, and their skills and abilities as well. The fantasy world is insane and the only thing that lures readers back to the real world are the memories of the players as they navigate. Every encounter could potentially kill them.
This issue had some very stunning and grotesque concepts and visuals. I enjoyed learning about each characters class, skills, and abilities more. I also enjoyed learning more about the game and how it is played. But, I must admit, I have questions already about some of the other characters that the party encountered. Could they possibly be other humans trapped in the game as well?
I love that Die is on the cusp of horror at times with its visuals and story-telling.
Rating: 8.5/10
