Even The Stars Will Fall review: A Stunning Fusion of Myth, Art and Afro‑Futurist Storytelling

How about a story on the power of stories in all their forms? The ones we tell each other, ourselves and the ones music brings, dressed in heavy mythology with incendiary villains and secret societies in art to ignite your senses? Then you need Even The Stars Will Fall from Folarin Akinmade and Bimpé Alliu.

Folarin Akinmade is a South London-based, British Nigerian writer and actor. Folarin's previous comic work includes This Train Terminates Here with artist Aaron Edzerza. Folarin is a prolific curator of skills, adorning a plethora of hats, including acting, copywriting, clothing, music and photography, as well as a literal abundance of hats.

Bimpé is a comic artist, illustrator and concept artist currently working as a concept artist at Industrial Light and Magic London. Bimpé's previous works include The Impossible books 1 & 2, as well as a formidable list of concept artist credits on IMDb. Including but not limited to The Sandman TV series, Andor, Deadpool & Wolverine, The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power and Avengers Endgame.

Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou is a British Algerian comics letterer and editor. With previous works including The Blue Flame, Black Stars Above, X-O Manowar, First Knife, Kill All Immortals and The Unlikely Story Of Felix and Macabber to name just a few. He was also the editor of Eisner-winning PanelxPanel and the voice behind Strip Panel Naked. Prestigious, powerful, prolific professionals introduced, let's get to a review.

So, let's start with the art. From the very first panel, Bimpé presents high-class comic book art, delivering arresting visuals, beautiful character work and inspired approaches to colour and, in particular, lighting. This art has a sense of completeness in its collective facets that adds a deep richness to the talented presentation.

The art is of such high quality that on first reading, it's easy to get swept along from panel to panel and page after page. Re-reads are where the true reward comes. It has an abundance of detail and a really talented eye for impressive colour work and lighting technique. There's a subtle beauty on offer throughout. I found a particularly impressive detail in the mask designs. The translucent effect being of particular merit. Bimpé's art satisfies on every level. It is rich and nourishing, with a polished edge sure to sate any comic book fan.

The beauty of the art and all its finest qualities are given extra appreciation thanks to sublime, divine lettering by Hassan. His work really emphasises the quality on offer. This is the start of something mythically, exuberantly brilliant.

Art adoration aside, how's the story? Well, Folarin Akinmade has sown the seeds of a beautiful new mythology concerning the power of stories that wears the aesthetics of a fantasy world tale steeped in its own grounded history. It utilises a favoured storytelling vehicle of mine as this one jumps straight into the deep end of its own lore and mythos, inviting readers to catch up to a compelling and thrilling tale.

The story, on its surface, centres on the protagonist, Miki Rol, and her initiation into the family-tied secret society, the "Choir Of TA'AD R'WE". An order steeped in occult capabilities and abilities, and with strong ties to a mythical phoenix and an event known as "Starsfall". The poetic mythology concerning these elements offers an intriguing enough narrative. This is only compounded upon by the added influence of Larkin and Y'asem, hinting at a haunted past and opposing radical beliefs. The heated interaction they share is wonderfully enticing narratively. There is an added panel I really appreciated, showing the legs of the table/workbench this discussion takes place at. I may be overanalysing, but it felt like a great visual metaphor for these two characters and how rooted they are in their beliefs.

All this exceptional world-building leads to an excellent cliffhanger of the best type of frustration, the need for more. There's a depth and wealth of storytelling on offer in a densely packed first issue. From the plot of the occult secret society of the city state of Ara and the conflict with the shadowy forces of The Radiant Empire to the mythology of the Choir and their beliefs, let alone the commentary on the power of stories, music and belief mixed with a touch of radicalization and Imperialism all dressed in beautiful story presentation this will easily be a fascinating ride.

For fans of mystery thrillers, myths, fantasy, deep, rich, storytelling, blue instruments of war and lullabies wielded by silent warrior spiritualists with a penchant for flaming avian deities tied to story myths, Afro-futurism, welding, sculptures and terroism with shadowy sinister forces in art to ignite your own belief in storytelling, engross yourself in the world of Even The Stars Will Fall.

To get your copy, you want the Even The Stars Will Fall Kickstarter campaign here. Being freshly launched and already at its goal. You're guaranteed a piece of this excellent new series and its all-consuming first issue.

Review: 5+/5.