It’s hard to not copy other reviewers, but this really does read like Conan the Barbarian story, only with a teenage boy fighting his way through armies of insects and mytes — humanoid insects. Spyders, wasps, the ant empire, beetle riders, butterflies, honeybees, maggots, and so much more. It’s lush and beautifully drawn with some of the most unique character ideas and world building I’ve seen in a long time. The pace is lightning fast and the action is nonstop, and I can’t wait for the next omnibus to come out. It’s just … so much fun. I think this is the best graphic novel I’ve read all year.

There’s also good character development as Slade has to go from being a nervous, shy and awkward young man to being the champion of humanity in an effort to keep the bugs of the yard from killing his brother, like they killed his father. And yet, he’s still just a kid underneath it all, wanting his mother to make him feel safe and loved.

There’s a lot of violence and a fair amount of gore with graphic deaths, decapitations and bugs killing people left right and center. If you’re squeamish about bugs, you’ll want to skip this one, but if you give it a try it’s just a joy to read. Thank you so very much to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC.

“Bug Wars Book One” is a syfy/fantasy graphic novel that ultimate comes down to a family drama that takes place in the deep south.

We immediately see there is an issue between these two brothers. As they are moving in, the older brother, Sydney, starts mowing. This may not seem like he is staying focused and on task, but it is his way of addressing a trigger point in his life. You see, he is dealing with the trauma of finding his father deceased when he was only 5 years old. And the father was covered in bugs when he found him. Sydney is waging a war against all bugs. Spoiler Alert: The bugs are plotting their revenge.

The younger brother, Slade, is out to protect the bugs. Why? Well, he takes after his dad and loves bugs. Even to the point of having a pet beetle named Pac. Slade is out to save the lives of every bug. This leads to a major confrontation while mom is at work. A confrontation that will forever change their family.

In a pivotal moment, Slade finds himself the size of a bug and in the middle of a war between the different clans of bugs and spiders. However, there is a peace treaty pending that could unite the bugs and spiders against their common enemy. The mower of the grass…Sydney.

Now, this might seem a bit comical. There are plenty of moments of humor in this graphic novel. Anyone that has ever visited or lived in the deep south, Alabama in particular, will get a chuckle out of the role of mosquitos and the declaration of “Role Tide!” in a pivotal moment. I mean, I am a UT Vols fan and I even laughed out loud at that moment.

But do not let the humor lull you to sleep. There is plenty of blood and guts. There are enough F-Bombs being dropped to destroy an entire planet. There is an ant orgy (a sentence that I never thought I would ever type) that includes breasts and male genitalia. It never quite gets pornographic, but…

And to me, that is the missed opportunity here. This was an incredible opportunity to use this story of loss and complicated family dynamics, of finding your place in the world, and facing fears. This graphic novel is so well written, it would have been a great opportunity to help younger (older elementary/middle school/high school) readers that have faced these issues.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing an ARC for an unbiased review.