The premise was interesting but if this is to be a series I feel that it should have used most of its 100 page length to flesh out Pan as a society. When the more advanced civilizations arrived I was unsure why I should care if Pan was taken over or not because with the exception of our protagonist and her friend everyone else kinda seems terrible. It then quickly turned into a sports book with no setup so I was also confused by what the tone and genre is supposed to be. Merwan's art is wonderful and unique that makes the book stand out from an artistic point.

With its ironically warm, if slightly washed-out palette and charismatic art style, Aster of Pan pulls reader into a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by an as-of-yet not really delved into catastrophe, though likely military in origin. Not a lot actually happens for most of this first volume, we mostly see the ruins of the world as a duo of scavengers roam in search of relics they can sell or exchange for rations. The author takes his time in building and establishing aspects of the world while giving the reader a tour-de-force around some typical locales. This makes the volume to feel somewhat dull at first, but the arty style saves it from being boring.

Overall, there's enough promising tidbits and nice art to make up for an enjoyable read, though I have to admit the big bad being obsessed by sports stroke up the silly chord in me. Whether the title will take advantage of its pluses remains to be seen, but it is only fair to give it a vote of confidence and enough time for it to fully find its feet.

Aster of Pan Volume 1 by Merwan, 101 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL
Europe Comics, 2019. $9.
Language: PG (4 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
In 2068, the farm town of Pan is struggling to survive after the devastation of war and social collapse. While 17-year-old Aster was raised in Pan, she is rejected because she was not born there. When an unknown man comes looking to colonize Pan, Aster is needed to help defend the only home she’s known if it has any hope of surviving.
Merwan illustrates the story with dynamic graphics to assist the script in telling Aster’s story, and I enjoyed the pictures more than the story itself. I think the premise is intriguing, but this first volume of the series is more about setting up the story than telling it. The sequels could be interesting; I hope they pick up the pace now that the foundation has been laid.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Love the artwork and colors for this graphic, the story was really interesting. I would recommend to young adult/new adult readers and adult readers who are looking for a good fantasy style graphic.