Writer: Deniz Camp
Art: Luca Maresca, Carlos Lopez, Yanick Paquette, GURU-eFX, VC’s Cory Petit, Tom Muller, and Jay Bowen
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Price:$4.99
Release Date: August 9th, 2023
The Children of the Vault are back, and they are determined to be humanity’s salvation! But not everything is as it seems, and every utopia has its costs. What is the motivation behind these highly evolved beings gifting the world with their advanced technology? And how do Bishop and a now-Orchis-captured Cable figure into their plans? Find out in Children of the Vault #1 by rising stars Deniz Camp and Luca Maresca!
If you’re interested in this comic, series, related trades, or any of the others mentioned, then simply click on the title/link to snag a copy through Amazon as you read the Children of the Vault #1 Review.
THE DISPATCH
With the collapse of Krakoa, what’s holding the Children of the Vault in suspended animation? What’s keeping them in a dream state? Absolutely nothing! However, it’s the next steps of the issue that were quite unexpected. After witnessing the X-Men issue where Forge places the Children of the Vault in their dream state, the sequences programmed in were one of world domination via destruction and war. However, that’s not Camp’s vision for Children of the Vault #1.
You see, Camp gives these post-humans a rebrand and repackaging that makes them quite appealing to the masses. Surprisingly enough, it makes the Children of the Vault look practically like the mutants and their proposal back at the beginning of the Krakoan Era. What they offer and the help they provide comes across as eerily similar to the mutant’s proposition except with what appears to be no strings. Granted, we know there must be strings AND we realistically know the mutants were only asking for acceptance, but what’s the big difference between the two? Easy… the backstory and the packaging. Camp makes the “Children of Tomorrow” better salesmen and bigger liars with the masses eating it up!
ART
Luca Maresca and Carlos Lopez do a phenomenal job drawing Cable with this mix of the young Duggan Cable meets Old Man Cable look that blends them together nicely. Moreover, the way these two detail and design their characters is timely and well done. The appearance is crisp and clean and doesn’t come across as rushed at all. I absolutely hate comics that draw rushed figures and outlines of characters and people in an issue. However, this creative team does quite the opposite. Readers, if I’m being honest, there is very little action involving the Children of the Vault. So, if the illustrations are good now, wait until they up the action with them in later issues. I have a feeling this comic is going to be buzzing come next month!
FINAL THOUGHTS
The best aspect of Children of the Vault #1 is the symbolism and themes associating what the “Children of Tomorrow” are doing with what our culture, media, and big businesses are doing to us today. The parallels are obvious and uncanny. Couple that same symbolism with an intriguing new story and angle, and this reviewer can’t help but wonder how Cable and Bishop alone can bring them down and expose them for who and what they really are. Plus, the minor cliffhanger adds a unique wrinkle to the series.
Readers know that the Children of the Vault are up to something. Yet, I love Camp’s sly little wrinkle that provoke just enough interest while simultaneously revealing the perfect amount of information to get fans hooked for issue two. I highly recommend diving into Children of the Vault #1. Sure, you’ll need a bit of background in order to get your feet wet with this installment. However, the issue itself is pretty self-contained. Let me know what you think, have a great week, and God Bless!