Warning: Potential Spoilers Ahead
Immortality… The ability to live forever. Both a blessing and a curse and explored in a variety of ways over the years in books, cartoons, comic books, tv shows, video games, card/tabletop games, and movies. Now you’ll occasionally have some forms of Immortality that aren’t truly able to prevent death in the long run. Elves in certain takes for example, along with Vampires and Werewolves can die. Along with those Immortals in the Highlander franchise can also end up passing the (im)mortal coil if their head is removed from the body. What’s all this got to do with anything you might ask? Well, other than Eat Your Young’s first issue from Mad Cave Studios featuring Immortality? Quite a bit actually! EYY is among the latest of MCS’ releases and nicely enough, was at my local comic shop waiting to be bought. WOOT!
Edmund Irons, the Alpha, the top dog in the yard of Clan Irons, is a 2000 year old Immortal and one who is finally tired of the long life he’s lived. Which has included a crap ton of kids he’s had. Which, when you think about it, leaves endless possibilities to explore and essentially having Edmund be a (in)direct cause of any number of History’s biggest moments thanks to the many kids he’s had. All of whom are Immortal for that matter too thanks to ol’ Ed and each represent a certain archetype. Such as The Cold War Spy, The Golden One, The Twins, The Fighter, and so forth.
Oddly enough, Antonia The Fighter and Edmund have a sweet if somewhat twisted daddy/daughter relationship. Tho every hundred years, a window of opportunity known as the Centurium is presented that allows for any of his chitlins to try and take his Immortality from him while they themselves are also mortal and even gunning for one another. Takes sibling rivalry to a whole new level! And since our boy is still alive at this point, its clear (and heartbreaking) that there’s been quite a few failures. Leading back to that bit about how the long life gig can be as much of a curse as it is a blessing. Issue 1 gives us an opportunity to meet the many kids Edmund currently (30) has and I have to say, I’m not that impressed by some of ‘em while also curious about a few of ‘em like the Weird Seven.
And its clear Ed himself isn’t all that impressed either given some of their attitudes. Tho why he’s so against Trajan the Addict is beyond me as you’d think the man wouldn’t draw the line at addiction given all he’s experienced. But only Brian Buccellato knows the story behind that and he’s not saying much on it just yet! And given that Brian has a lot to work with, we don’t necessarily know that much about all the kids Ed’s had. The Twins and Kerr The Monster however, you definitely get to need all you need to know about those three in just a few panels. Enough to know you don’t want any of the three to be the next Irons Alpha.
Mattia Monaco does such a great job on the art/color duties and I’m certain it was quite the challenge for their artistic skills when it came to so many characters! Probably a good thing tho that we aren’t gonna get all that attached to ‘em however! Now one thing I want to know, is why ol’ Ed seems determined for Elsa, his youngest, to be the next Irons Alpha. As its a lot to bear for anyone, most especially a child. But given she’s the youngest and the most innocent, maybe that’s why he’s chosen her. Still rather screwed up and it makes me think if the Centurium wasn’t about to happen, he wouldn’t even think of choosing her.
At least… Not until she’s older and more capable. Either way, I’m looking forward to October 1st, as that’s when the second issue hits our eyeballs but in a more pleasant way of course. Things are already getting dire and that’s definitely the way to hook someone! Even if it is kind of a cliffhanger…
But anyways, don’t sit on this book and take awhile to read it!
Eat Your Young #1
Mad Cave Studios
Writer: Brian Buccellato
Artist and Colorist: Mattia Monaco
Letterer: Buddy Beaudoin
Reviewer: Rob Wrecks
Summary: What happens when a 2,000-year-old Immortal Warlord decides he’s done? In EAT YOUR YOUNG, EDMUND IRONS names his six-year-old daughter, ELSA, as the next Alpha of his immortal clan. But every hundred years, during a brutal 27-day window known as The Centurium, his children have one chance to rip out his heart and claim the throne — or lose their immortality forever. Now, Edmund’s thirty offspring — an iconic cast of genre archetypes like The Cold War Spy, The Serial Killer, The Vigilante, The Punk Rocker, and The Billionaire Futurist — turn on their father and each other in a zero-sum battle for eternal life.
