By Clyde Hall — ‘The bounties of heaven are in such manner distributed, that every living creature has its share; beside, that to desire things against nature, is effectually to blame the very author of nature itself.’ – Moral of Aesop’s Fable, ‘A Fox and a Hare to Jupiter’

It’s doubtful the fox and hare of Aesop’s story were instrumental in shaping Vault’s new title, Fox and Hare #1. But its moral is mirrored in the premiere issue, the imbalance that happens when greedy corporations grapple for more and more bounty (i.e. profits) while leaving in ruin lives of the common people. Or just taking everything from them. Including their lives.

This also illustrates how balanced co-creators Jon Tsuei and Stacey Lee have been in their storytelling. Western concepts can be seen within their narrative, but readers will also discover their brand of cyberpunk aims at presenting Asian culture, spirituality, and characters at the center of their adventure. It’s overdue.

As much as rebellion against overextending authority and mind-bending tech are part of the Western cyberpunk genre in its many forms, so is a strong Asian aesthetic across fashion, future trends, and design. If you doubt it, imagine 1982’s Blade Runner without any Asian stylistic influences. Yet, in that film as in many cyberpunk stories, Asian representation is minor. Or it’s missing altogether.

Not in Fox and Hare #1. Twenty-five years ago, orphans Kita and Keza cope with the sudden death of both sets of parents in the city of Mazu Bay. Faced with uncaring and militant local authority, they become their own family. It’s a bond which endures even when they’re all grown up and the most successful mercenaries around.

Customers apparently pay well for lots of score-settling in the Bay because Kita and Keza have an abundance of work. One job is freeing a group of orphans being held in a building once used as a lab for megacorporation Synastry Designs. Given their own beginnings as a team, you have to wonder if this is a pro bono operation for the two, but a discovery in the old Synastry facility divides their attention. Aurora Yi, hacker, is downloading old, encrypted files from the abandoned design labs.

The three form an alliance centered around the files and the widespread disappearances of Mazu Bay citizenry seemingly connected to a past research project. A project Synastry Designs doesn’t want going public.

Tsuei uses broad strokes in effectively establishing the protagonists and at least some of the forces poised against them. The latter includes the Prime Minister, giving us an idea of the long odds plied against our protagonists. Kita’s tough as a pine knot, the more force applied to smoothing her out or removing her, the more resistant she becomes. She’s focused on enduring, not endearing, and Tsuei captures her personality perfectly.

Keza seems the more compassionate one of the two and likely the more accommodating. Both, however, have no hesitation or lack of skill applying violent methods in earning their living. Aurora is sassy and funny and smart, as well as subversive enough with her hacker skills to keep all three of them in trouble for the foreseeable future.

They’re all enjoyable in their exploits here, and deftly outlined with sufficient detail for layering on more in future. Tsuei’s seeded just enough storyline into this expositional opener, then provided light rounds of battle and chase scenes. It’s minimalistic in scope, but with helpings of just about every element for varied reader tastes.

Lee’s art makes this issue pop with its clean lines, subtle character expressions, and detailing. Overall, the book is one of sublime design. Those who like underplayed tech smoothly portrayed and sensical devices with amazing functionality will enjoy her visualization of futuristic devices. She shows a society with hardwired apps for temporal ports, but still enough sense of style and fashion not to look like Lobots. This seems reasonable, and it balances well against the more-tech-is-better kind of place Mazu Bay is. Tech is good, but attractive tech is even better. Who cares that you can laser skate if the Lightlifter© cross trainer doesn’t project the proper level of stylish sophistication you deserve?

The masks and battle attire of Fox and Hare are some of the most iconic wonderwear I’ve seen this year, and they aren’t technically even ‘superhero’ uniforms. They just could be. Lee’s design pages, some of which appeared in various articles regarding the launch, are visually harmonious. They settle peacefully around the viewer in a way usually associated with meditation. Well, around this viewer anyway. There are colors-only backgrounds lacking details in several panels, and this may be a downside for some readers. But Lee tends toward doing that when there’s action in the foreground for balance, so it’s a minor quibble.

Vehicular explosions and night markets were coloring highlights this issue provided by Raul Angulo. He keeps the hues serviceable but not flashy until he needs them to be otherwise. And then he goes all in. In this way, his panels often deliver the impacts of a full page splash in only half the space. Letterer Jim Campbell turns in his usual top marks work, including one amusing run-on sentence delivered under duress.

The release of Fox and Hare #1 has been delayed twice due to COVID contingencies, and also because, as Vault said in their announcements, they wanted this creative team to have the time needed for doing their story, a cyberpunk tale with important differences, a story about justice and the families we make, justice. The premiere issue proves it was the right call, and well worth the wait.

Overall: If you’re on the hunt for cutting-edge cybernetics and untraceable hackmaster software nowhere else, come to Mazu Bay! If it leads you to two mercenaries dressed like the heroes of Fox and Hare #1, either run away or start a live feed using a pay-per-view platform. You’ll draw an audience the same way this premiere should. 8/10

Fox and Hare #1

Fox and Hare #1
Writer: Jon Tsuei
Artist: Stacey Lee
Colors: Raul Angulo
Letterer: Jim Campbell
Publisher: Vault Comics
Price: $4.99
When black market coder Aurora Yi uncovers top secret data that has tapped into the past lives of the citizens of Mazu Bay, her world is turned upside down. The mega corporation Synastry Designs wants its data back and is hot on her trail. Aurora has no choice but to turn to the Fox and the Hare, the most feared mercenaries in the city, for protection.
Buy It Here: Fox and Hare #1

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Clyde Hall (He/Him) lives in Southern Illinois. He’s an Elder Statesman of Geekery, an indie author, a comics fan/reviewer, and a contributing writer at Stormgate Press. He’s on twitter at: (@CJHall1984)