Tom Morello’s Orchid is a project that initially slipped under my radar. You know him best as part of Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave, and as his persona The Nightwatchman, in many ways you have to say that a comic project by him would be unique to say the least. The best selling point is that the first issue is only a dollar! That’s a great way to get anyone to try out a new series. With the help of Scott Hepburn’s art in bringing Orchid’s world to life, you’re getting the introduction to a story that from the first issue is going to develop in ways no one could expect. I for one was pleasantly surprised.
When Orchid starts up you get the story organically, showing you just what happened to this world. Scott Hepburn absorbs you into this new setting by showing this transition from the world we know to what it ends up being. Tom Morello sets the mood for you and truly impressed me with this intro. This shows the seas rising, showing the aftermath of humans being reduced to living in settlements being ruled over by more powerful people living above ground, while everyone is surrounded by a place called The Wild that houses animals altered by genetics being smashed to pieces. Then you see the aftermath of a failed rebellion as one last group is still fighting to get the mask of the leader of that failed attempt, General China. Nice thing about this is you have the scene set and you’re set to embrace this new setting from the beginning. Nicely done Morello, and from there you’re off to the races.
The races is literal, since you’re in the midst of a chase scene of the last group Anzio and the Shadow Rebels, on the run from Tomo Wolfe’s army who they just grabbed the mask from. I loved how
this whole segment turned out. Tom Morello has a natural style in just pacing this story. Through this you get introduced to Simon. As he escapes the assault, he turns into your tour guide in seeing just how bad life can be in the lower levels of the human settlements. As the reader this is handy in getting to know further every step of this new place. I applaud this from Tom Morello and mixed in with how Simon’s looks are him being a detached wanderer while making sure he doesn’t get caught. Hepburn does a great job in showing Simon’s emotions and reactions to everything around him.
After getting your first introduction to the true horror’s of the Wild, you get introduced to Orchid. She’s a prostitute who you find out later has more to her than meets the eye. She’s the hardest one to peg so far in character terms but Morello does a nice job in making you at least want to know more about her. She’s tough yet you can tell she has a heart. How her path connects to Simon leads to some brutal last pages. Hepburn’s way of conveying Morello’s words is heartbreaking and powerful. The last page alone is seared into my mind, making me wonder what the next issue is going to hold for Orchid, her little brother, and Simon.
Orchid’s first issue is an excellent start to a series. This is Tom Morello’s first comic series and I have to say that doesn’t show. Scott Hepburn is an artist that was new to me but now I’m impressed at how he’s a perfect match for Morello’s story. A nice bonus with this series is if you head over to http://nightwatchmanmusic.com/orchid/ you can download an Mp3 featured on Morello’s latest Nightwatchman album, World Wide Rebel Songs, called “It Begins Tonight,” and from the next issue on you’ll get a song recorded specifically for each issue of Orchid. That’s a nice addition to set the mood for this series. If the promise of this first issue holds up, this series is going to be a must read, so why not get on the ground floor and grab the first issue of Orchid. You’ll be glad you did.
