Written by Rick Remender
Art by André Lima Araújo
Published by Image Comics
The saying goes, “The only thing necessary for evil to triumph in the world is that good men do nothing.”
But what happens when an ordinary, unassuming good man decides to stand against an unspeakable evil?
That is the question asked and answered in Remender and Araújo’s A Righteous Thirst for Vengeance.
Mr. Wen is an ordinary, unassuming insurance investigator who stumbles across a murderous plot that will kill innocent people. Having failed to save his initial targets, Mr. Wen sets out to stop a vicious group of dark web assassins.
However, in shielding the targeted victims, Mr. Wen unwittingly becomes the conspiracy’s next target.
Remender and Araújo wonderfully realize A Righteous Thirst for Vengeance.
Mr. Wen’s world is a quiet yet atmospheric landscape. Much of the comic hardcover is jaw-droppingly illustrated silent panels that impressively convey Mr. Wen’s plight as his circumstance become increasingly risky.
It is a slice-of-life story with sudden, startling bouts of unique, draw-dropping violence.
What sets A Righteous Thirst for Vengeance apart from other action tales is the ordinary nature of Mr. Wen.
Wen is an astoundingly average, slightly obese, and out-of-shape Asian man in his late 30s or early 40s. Wen bares a striking resemblance to the MCU actor Benedict Wong, and I wonder if Remender crafted Wen’s appearance to match Wong’s everyman appearance and demeanor.
What makes this book truly horrifying is that the cabal hopelessly outmatches Wen.
Yet, he continues to try to fight an impossible fight in the face of increasingly bleak odds. A Righteous Thirst for Vengeance is heavy with its unrelenting emotional weight and depictions of violence.
The book is an instant classic, and fans of Remender, Araújo, and true crime won’t be disappointed.
The final score is 5 out of 5 stars.
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