Thank you Curt Pires, Image Comics, and Net Galley for the opportunity to review this graphic novel.

Stepping into the alternate reality of Lost Fantasy was an exciting experience. I enjoyed the weaving of reality and fantasy in this story, though I often prefer full fantasy settings. I got vibes of X-Men, DMC, grimdark tales, and good old hack-and-slash video games in this.

The mystery detective aspect is also interesting, with twists and turns throughout the investigation that will undoubtedly lead to more for Henry to discover. Even when you belong to a secret organization, sometimes they keep secrets from themselves.

I am not sure what's going on with Val, but at the moment, she just feels like a sexy plot device; however, seeing as this is only Volume 1, I do not want to judge her appearances harshly yet. With graphic novels, I try and retain the idea that we only see glimpses of the story in each volume and that things will likely open up as the series continues.

I'll certainly be picking up future volumes to see what comes next for Henry and the others.

Lost Fantasy Volume 1 is a trippy, ambitious ride that blends surreal imagery with bold storytelling. Curt Pires pushes boundaries in a way that feels fresh and exciting, creating a world where the rules are constantly shifting—and I loved how unpredictable that made the reading experience. The artwork and narrative feed off each other, giving the whole volume a dreamlike energy.
That said, the same qualities that make it fascinating also make it occasionally disorienting. Some sections felt more like abstract exercises than fully fleshed-out storytelling, and I found myself wishing for a bit more cohesion at times. Still, when it clicks, it really clicks—and the highs more than outweigh the moments that left me spinning.
Overall, it’s inventive, stylish, and a strong start for readers who want their comics bold, strange, and unafraid to take risks.

Was looking forward to "Lost Fantasy" and it deserved my hype. Been seeing alt covers that give homage to some of the inspiration. Really like the Devil May Cry alt by Alex Diotto.

Writer - Curt Pires
Artist - Luca Casalanguida
Letterer - Micah Myers
Colorist - Mark Dale

Bit over 100 years ago a natural disaster was used as an excuse for a magical incursion into our world. Since then the slayers of those monsters have worked with world leaders to obfuscate and contain magical threats. But things break through the cracks. In Montana something laid waste to a party of teens and the lone survivor is in a coma. Henry Blackheart is called in, things are going to get bloody.

Reasons to read:
-Based on just the first issue I feel like I could geek out on so many topics with the creators
-The magic we have seen is not a win button
-Big sword makes good brain chemicals
-The meta plot is going places
-Ominous foreshadowing

Cons:
-I prefer volumes so it means waiting longer to continue stories...

There’s nothing wrong this but i just didn’t like it unfortunately. I found it boring and couldn’t get into it yet I know some people who would love it. So yes, I’m the problem.

I haven’t read a graphic novel in quite some time and I had a lot of fun! This really flexed the strong attributes of quick short prose with magical whimsy that best comes through with images. If you’re into a dark, sci-fi, cop-show, thriller sci-fi then this is for you! This was so good it really got me excited to read more.

Henry Blackheart investigates what appears to be a breach between worlds when a creature slaughters a bunch of teenagers at a house party in the woods—only to discover that there is a lot more going on and things aren’t nearly so straightforward—and rather are going straight to hell..

The art itself is really good, it fits the tone in the story and was visually really compelling. For that reason, I kind of wish the writer trusted the artist more—there were moments where the author starts describing emotions and feelings for the reader instead of trusting them to draw upon the expressions of the characters and the subtext. I think this is partially a symptom of the fast pace of the story—world building and character relationships are just presented as preexisting things so you don’t learn them the most organic way, but it does the art and the story itself a disservice. Val for example is not a character but a plot tool—for one of the only women that takes up any page time in this, she’s at first presented as a badass and cold woman who takes a job on someone she knows—only to immediately fall short of what she was presented as for an unestablished relationship the reader has no stakes in aside from what the author tells the reader to feel. Her relationship with Henry serves only to help him for no logical reason (that serves Val) aside that Henry is the main character and can’t make ends meet on his own.

Otherwise, I did enjoy this, you do get into the action very quickly, the story has a strong dark and mysterious vibe that blends well with the fantastical elements of the world building, and I’m fond of men with gigantic broadswords fighting monsters. I like that he does take some damage and isn’t just inherently over powered, but has to rely on others to solve the mystery and survive the action of the story. I definitely would continue reading more when the next volume comes out because there are a lot of things being set up still in this first volume that haven’t yet come into fruition. There’s also a lot of unexplored potential in Henry’s abilities that seem a lot more complex than what the reader gets to see so far, in a way I’m sure that ties in with his backstory, so I’d definitely want to know more about what’s going on there.

I’m giving this book 3/5 stars, definitely has potential but some of the pacing and character development needs a bit more work.