The Futurists #1 exclusive review – a new historic fantasy series from Allegiance

By Louie Fecou
Published: June 11, 2020 (Last updated: December 31, 2023)
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The Futurists #1 exclusive review - a new historic fantasy series from Allegiance
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Summary

The Futurists #1 zips along at a cracking pace, and there is a strange mixture of historical drama and supernatural fantasy that makes for another better-than-average release from Allegiance Arts.

This review of The Futurists #1 contains some minor spoilers.


The journey to Shambhala is an expedition into the deepest mysteries of humankind. That’s as true for us as it is for The Futurists‘ heroes and villains. Some will say Shambhala was a utopia now lost to time or calamity, that its wealth remains untouched, waiting for plunder. Others claim it’s a myth, an impossible journey intended to teach us the value of what we already possess — that the actual destination lies within ourselves. whether myth or historical fact, one thing is for certain; the perils on the road to Shambhala are as real as our inner demons.

So states the notes on The Futurists #1, the debut of this historical fantasy title from Patrick Stiles and Butch Guice.

We open in Calcutta 1866, and a carriage arrives at a foreboding mansion, complete with skulls and torches, as officer Blevins and his entourage prepare for a night of magic.

A séance ensues that leads to cryptic messages being delivered from beyond the grave.

We then flash back to 1857 India and the army is busy discovering they have been infiltrated by The Thugee. They have also discovered a hidden tomb they believe to be filled with treasure, power, and secrets, however, there are too many local witnesses that may prove to be a problem, and the solution is to get rid of them.

Not all the troops are on board though, and all hell quite literally breaks loose, when a demon surfaces from the tomb and starts to wreak havoc.

After the chaos, the wife of Lieutenant Theodore Gunn arrives at a military hospital trying to find her missing husband, however, Gunn is discovered about to murder a superior, and is accused of being a traitor.

There’s a lot going on in this first issue, it zips along at a cracking pace, and there is a strange mixture of historical drama and supernatural fantasy.

It is a book that needs a re-read to catch all the plot points, but let’s face it, that’s what makes comics so unique in the first place.

You can instantly reread the previous page, take time to look at the art, and eventually get a full understanding of the plot, and luckily here the artwork from veteran comic artist Butch Guice is fantastic. His realistic style is very well suited to this title, and it only wavers in the appearance of the more fantastic elements of the script.

My one real complaint about the book is the actual title logo on the cover. It’s hard to read and seems to disappear into the art, surely a mistake for a new book that you want to stand out on the shelves. I see what they were trying to do, but if you get the time Allegiance, rethink the font used on this cover.

This concludes my look at the four titles produced from new indie comic publisher Allegiance Arts. I was lucky enough to get these issues shipped over to the UK, and all our titles are, in my opinion, of a standard that is above many other books put out by bigger more experienced companies. You can read our reviews of Red Rooster, Norah’s Saga, and Bass Reeves to get a sense of them.

I fear that the timing of the release of the titles may hinder the sale of the books, and if you are in the states, can I urge you to pop to Walmart and see if you can find them.

I’m hoping if the titles do well enough they may make their way into UK comic shops, as all 4 books deserve a wider audience.

Comics