Drome by Jesse Lonergan. 23rd St., 2025. 978-1250386939. 320pp.
Lonergan (Hedra, All-Star, Arca, Man's Best, Planet Paradise) creates an epic, mythic graphic novel about gods, heroes, elementals, the desire for power, and the dawn of civilization.
Blue is strong, tough, and seemingly immortal; it's not long before all the people kneel to her. Red is a Hulk-like being who finds brotherhood in nature. His first meeting with Blue did not go the way I expected, and mankind demands justice for what he does. Together, they try to preserve civilization, though that proves difficult for several reasons, the least of which is a giant fire elemental.
Lonergan's graphic novel remimds me of two others I loved: Jesse Moynihan's Forming (new edition coming from Fantagraphics in 2026!) and Joseph Keatinge's and Sophie Campbell's Glory. It's got a dash of superhero-ish style and a bit of Conan's Hyperborea, plus a villainous human willing to do anything to get power and a creator who is less than kind.
My favorite parts: I was all-in as soon as I saw the battle with the giant crab, and I loved the layouts and art during the descent into the underworld that takes place later. Every page of this book is fantastic!
