One of the comic books I’ve been most anticipating in 2023 is W0rldtr33 from Image Comics. In looking at all the new comics coming out this year W0rldtr33 caught my eye the most. That was simply from the amazing creative team for the series. Written by James Tynion with artwork by Fernando Blanco and coloring by Jordie Bellaire I knew W0rldtr33 was one to watch from the creative team alone. Find out how W0rldtr33 #1 turned out with our advance review below.
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: James Tynion IV
Artist: Fernando Blanco
Colorist: Jordie Bellaire
Letterer: Aditya Bidikar
SOLICITATION
“In 1999, Gabriel and his friends discovered the Undernet, a secret architecture to the Internet. They charted their exploration on a message board called W0RLDTR33. Then they lost control. Someone broke into W0RLDTR33—someone who welcomed the violent hold the Undernet had on them. At great personal cost, Gabriel and the others thought they sealed the Undernet away for good. They were wrong. And now they will know the meaning of PH34R.” – ImageComics.com
REVIEW
Right away James Tynion, Fernando Blanco, and Jordie Bellaire capture your interest with the opening of W0rldtr33 #1. Whether it was a coincidence or not this issue works in tapping into the fears many have when it comes to the current state of technology. Specifically with the rise of A.I. in recent months W0rldtr33 #1 works to blend sci-fi with the real world so the story stays grounded in the reality it creates.
No doubt what will catch the attention of many is the visuals. This is certainly an adult series, as you’ll see with the mysterious lead that opens W0rldtr33 #1. While the character is certainly sexualized, Fernando Blanco and Jordie Bellaire make sure that the reader isn’t simply focused on this one element of the story. Like The Fifth Element, Blanco and Bellaire create an aesthetic style that is an extension of this one character. There is a blend of real-world with sci-fi that comes across as unique to W0rldtr33.
The art style by Blanco and Bellaire helps get over the concept of the Undernet that Tynion is utilizing for the story of W0rldtr33. As teased in the solicitation, we get a lot of information about the dangers of the W0rldtr33 that some friends in the 90s discovered but stopped before it got out of control. Tynion is very careful in showing right away why W0rldtr33 is a dangerous thing to be released into the world without giving everything away. There is a restraint shown so there is still a lot about the W0rldtr33 that can be discovered in future issues.
By creating this atmosphere of unknown fear with W0rldtr33 it allows the focus of this first issue to be on how the concept already has an immediate impact. That impact comes from how in the hands of one random person it can cause chaos. Tynion, Blanco, and Bellaire integrate real-world elements in how W0rldtr33 showcased that there is a sense of a greater horror down the horizon.
This all adds to the greater mystery of the character that opens W0rldtr33 #1. There is a cool but scary vibe to how she acts throughout this opening issue. You are left with many questions about the character. It’s those questions along with how characters react to the events of W0rldtr33 #1 that will have you coming back for more.
FINAL THOUGHTS
James Tynion, Fernando Blanco, and Jordie Bellaire created a comic book that immediately engages you from the moment you open W0rldtr33 #1. Everything from the concept of the Undernet to the characters themselves leaves you looking forward to what comes next in this world. This is one comic book you don’t want to miss out on reading.
Story Rating: 9 Night Girls out of 10
Art Rating: 9 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 9 Night Girls out of 10