Over the last few months, I’ve found that I quite enjoy miniseries. Apart from being a great option for those with limited reading time, it’s especially interesting to me as a storyteller to see how other authors can skillfully craft satisfying narratives with only limited word counts or issue length. Today’s story, Kroma, is a prime example of the short story medium through the graphic novel format.

The series totals four issues and is collected in one trade paperback. Krome is created, written, and illustrated by Lorenzo de Felici and is published by Image Comics. Lorenzo’s other work includes stories like The Many Deaths of Laila Starr, another book I’ve heard great things about. He was also the main artist for Robert Kirkman’s Oblivion Song series. 

Set in an engaging world where humanity hides behind the walls of the Pale City to hide from the dangers of the natural world, Kroma’s chief threats to civilization are a species of giant lizards that see and communicate through colors. Since the lizards can’t see black and white, all color has been completely removed from the Pale City, and humanity has evolved to eliminate any genes that could result in colors, such as brightly colored hair or eyes.

The Pale City is governed by religious dogma, which states that humanity lives in exile for a past sin committed against their creator, the King of Colors. As punishment for their arrogance, the King seeks to wipe them out using his servants, the lizards and other such demons.

Each year, the people of the city hold a ritual where they hunt the supposed child of the King of Colors sent to undermine their sovereign rule. It’s here where we meet our protagonist, a young acolyte named Zet, and the girl Kroma, believed to be a demon in disguise. 

While Kroma starts off following well-trodden narrative beats, I appreciated how quickly it diverges, taking some surprising twists that will keep you engaged. This, combined with the incredibly unique world, makes for a wonderfully entertaining and concise fantasy adventure series. Kroma has some strong themes surrounding persecution, dogmatic thinking, faith, and nature, which De Felici fleshes out perfectly over the course of four issues. The artwork also supplements these ideas perfectly with the striking use of colors to enhance narrative moments and illustrate the growth of our characters and the changes happening in the world around them.

In terms of overall character work, Kroma is rock solid. The major players all have distinct motives, and our protagonists have clearly defined arcs that progress over the course of the narrative. Dialogue feels appropriate and natural for each individual. I like how the young characters, in particular, speak with this degree of wonder but also awkwardness at the world around them.  

The ending of Kroma is one that is especially powerful, and it’s truly what cemented this story for me as an immediate recommendation. It’s the type of ending that balances melancholy with hope, and the overall messages of the book have become even more relevant in the current society we find ourselves in. If you can manage to track this book down, I would certainly give it a read.

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Kroma

$19.99

10

Score

10.0/10

Pros

• Unique world
• Use of color to convey themes
• Powerful ending
• Surprising twists