No One Left to Fight - Trade Rating Review
No One Left to Fight, Vol. 1, was released on March 11, 2020.
By Jarred A. Luján — No One Left to Fight was one of the breakout books of 2019. I was fortunate enough to review a couple of the single issues (#3 here, #5 here) for the site during its run, but I was excited about eventually reading it in trade format. I wanted to see what held up when it’s read so closely together, and what new things I could pick up.
I think the first thing that I was expecting is to be less shell shocked by the artwork. I’ve read it before, and so surely Fico Ossio couldn’t melt my brain on the reread, right? Wrong. Fico Ossio’s art is still an absolute stunner. It almost feels unfair that Ossio is allowed to draw like this. I think what I gleaned the most off of this second read was how intricate the character design was, noticing as I did things that I didn’t necessarily take the time to notice on the first time around. I really liked that at the end of the trade it included some of Fico’s notes/designs on the characters, particularly the Revivified Bruton, which I was really intrigued by. Overall, I think Ossio’s work here is still second to none.
One of the things I regret not touching on when I reviewed the single issues is how dynamic and diverse Ossio’s panel layouts are. I am almost certain there aren’t two pages in this book that have a similar layout. That pushes the pace of the book, giving it that fresh feel from page to page. In particular the Powermeld/Separation pages do so much to give the storytelling that extra OOMPH. The sequential art here is second to none. Whether this is your first time reading No One Left to Fight or your 50th, you probably still be stunned by how insane these pages look.
I beat this drum before and I’ll beat it again: Taylor Esposito absolutely smashes the lettering on here. We all know lettering is an art form on its own (if you don’t, now you do) but I can’t even begin to think about lettering pages like this. Big, bombastic, dynamic pages with wildly diverse layouts have to bring their own serious challenges, but Esposito handles them flawlessly. The way we get a diverse speaking voices and effects, the way the placement compliments the art, while managing the dialogue clearly and concisely is great. This has to be the best lettering of 2019.
Rereading No One Left to Fight made me gain a better appreciation for what the book is really saying though. The themes of regret, of resentment, of choice and responsibility is something that I gained a ton more appreciation for this time around. In return, I gained a lot more sympathy for Vale, a hero who has everything, but still nothing. Vale’s journey, what kicks off this whole book, feels a lot more emotional and heavier with all of this in sight now. The best way to say it is that Aubrey Sitterson’s plot has the brains to back up the brawn of Ossio/Avila/Esposito visual power.
A final note is that there is still a lot here we don’t know. Sitterson does a really excellent job of dropping hints towards the world, little bits and pieces that help us understand the character’s backgrounds without beating us over the head with it. It’s really well done, and helps us understand the relationship dynamic with some of the characters (for example: Timor/Mistress Harga.) What that does tell us is that there is a lot left in this world, an abundance of world left to know.
Overall: The book is nostalgic and familiar in all the ways you want it to be, while being brand new and eclectic in the ways you need it to be. No One Left to Fight is a shining example of how great comics can be. 10/10
No One Left to Fight, Vol. 1
Writer: Aubrey Sitterson
Artist: Fico Ossio
Colorist: Fico Ossio with Raciel Avila
Letterer: Taylor Esposito
Publisher: Dark Horse ComicsThey've saved the world countless times, growing up together and growing apart in the process. But now, with adulthood tightening its grip, they're forced to reconcile their regrets and resentments, coming to terms with the lives they've chosen. Inspired by the legendary Dragon Ball, critically acclaimed creators Aubrey Sitterson (The Comic Book Story of Professional Wrestling, G.I. Joe) & Fico Ossio (Spider-Man, Revolution) invite you on an action-packed journey through their expansive new world. Collects No One Left to Fight #1-#5.
Release Date: March 11, 2020
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Jarred A. Luján makes comics, studies existential philosophy, and listens to hip-hop too loudly. For bad jokes and dog pictures, you can follow him on Twitter.