Journey back to an age when gods walked the earth, only sometimes hiding from men. High up in the clouds, a young woman leaves her mountain village to find her father who disappeared a decade earlier. Meanwhile, a young misfit becomes separated from his army, marching down from the north toward a clash that only dark gods desire. All of it delineated in a style that’s kid friendly, accurate in symbology, and occasionally frightening. For darkness does lurk under the impassive faces of the powers beyond our ken.
Welcome to the world of Codex Black, a graphic novel series by Camilo Moncada Lozano. The first volume, A Fire Among Clouds, was released last week by IDW, and its meticulously researched dive into mesoamerican myth could not be more timely — or important. For this grumpy old fanboy, it’s a way into a culture I didn’t learn enough about in school. But first and foremost, it’s entertaining. Moncada Lozano has included research notes, though the galley edition I got didn’t have it. Luckily, footnotes fill in some information throughout.
The characterization is strong. Dialogue may seem a little stilted, but that’s because they we’re still reading an historical epic with different cultural norms. Though the action does pause for explanations, they feel organic without being overly expository. There’s also a hint that the artist may be pushing on traditional gender roles, and the echoes through history are welcome.
Though the humans have a cartoony, manga-esque touch, the style adapts well to the supernatural elements. While Chicahualizteotl seems friendly enough while inhabiting the poncho of protagonist Donají, he can look terrible when he needs to be. But he’s nothing compared to the dark ritual in the prologue. As fun an adventure and as charming the glimpses of village life are, something terrible is building. The monsters we see in A Fire Among Clouds will only be the beginning. You’ll want the second volume to appear the second you finish the first.
