Royals #1 is written by Derek Kirk Kim and published by Image Comics. Artwork is by Jacob Perez, and the main cover art (left) is by Jacob Perez.
Royals #1 is available from today, in comic book stores and on digital platforms where all good comic books are sold. Grab your physical copy from Forbidden Planet or digitally from Amazon Comixology UK.
Synopsis
Twin brothers Paul and Castor have crafted the perfect poker hustle using their uncanny telepathic connection. But they might have finally met their match when they risk it all against the leader of the Bloody Cocks, the most ruthless criminal syndicate in Seoul.
Review
Image seems to be on a hot streak with its new series, such as White Sky, D’Orc, and Narco, all delivering original concepts and unique takes on familiar themes. Royals, courtesy of writer Derek Kirk Kim, looks continue this trend with a fun spin on the buddy crime comedy genre.
From the word go, Kim establishes the dynamic between Paul and Castor in a humorous, relatable manner. Paul is clearly the focused one who approaches everything from a pragmatic point of view, whereas Castor is more outgoing and laidback, which is what constantly gets the pair into trouble. These distinctions make them a fun pair to follow in this story, but the added element of telepathy allows for a lot more comedic and dramatic opportunities to explore their relationship that one would normally get through regular dialogue.
This concept also allows Jacob Perez to get playful with his artwork, and he does so at every chance. The style on show here feels in line with a really polished cartoon, with character designs balanced between grounded and exaggerated, whilst the colours stay consistently bright and bold from page to page. This approach lets Perez maintain a lively tone to the whole thing while letting the nightlife of Seoul come alive with personality.
The pacing and storytelling on display here also complements the artwork perfectly. There is a snappiness found in Royals that is both engaging and refreshing. From quabbles between the two brothers to tense moments on the casino floor, the story neatly ebbs and flows from quiet to tense situations really raise the stakes for these characters both in the moment and potentially down the line as well.
These brotherly tensions come to a head during a really suspenseful sequence in which Castor is down to his last move in a televised poker game, but, due to a power cut, Paul can’t see the match and is going in blind. The way this sequence is creatively displayed through panel placements and Perez’s vibrant art creates a nail-biting moment that reinforces the brothers’ personalities and the growing issue that they deal with regularly. There is a humour present, especially when Castor does the Gangnam Style dance around Paul, but this only exacerbates Paul’s justified anger and eventual outburst.
Royals is a really fun read. Its humour and character dynamics are well defined from the start will get better with time. The way this series takes a familiar genre and adds a creative spin on the whole thing keeps the idea from getting stale, setting up a really entertaining story with grounded and flawed characters we can all relate to in some sense.
Verdict
Issue one of Royals quickly and confidently establishes a playful premise that works incredibly well. It’s got a lot of energy and heart at its core, all whilst being genuinely funny, visually stylish and downright entertaining.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
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