"ASSASSIN'S CREED: TRIAL BY FIRE VOL. 1" (REVIEW)

Assassin's Creed: Trial By Fire Vol. 1 is a story about a new initiate in a secret organization who finds herself thrust into the past and more specifically into the genetic memories of her ancestor, Tom Stoddard, through a machine called the Animus. She must discover the truth about the two organizations that want to claim her and the feud that keeps them apart. For Charlotte De La Cruz, our protagonist, it's also a story about the real world and about what she can do to benefit those who need her the most. Char is a person who wants to create change for people and continuously looks for ways to right wrongs that she sees. She follows her passions and like she says it doesn't always mean she's "so employable" in her world but she does have heart and we find that she can find a memorable way to impact change in the world, in a very special way. This is a great introduction to the series if you are new to it. You'll get a view into the background, beginning, characters and story of Assassin's Creed. Want to see an advanced preview, first?

(Slight, General Spoilers May Follow!)

Chapter One: We start in 1852 in the Great Basin Desert of the California Gold Rush. We meet our hero who is boarding a horse-drawn buggy. The reader can get caught up in the action and could be surprised when we jump to a messy room with someone sat at a computer. It was all a game, but we learn that the girl at the computer is playing with someone online. She immediately seems like her character from the game, though. She admits that she chose to play as the 'villain' who is stealing the gold from those who stole it from the townsfolk because she is "like Robin Hood or something". I instantly like her and wonder where her story will take us. The dialog and art catches me immediately, as well. I like being able to see what she is thinking along with the action.

Jump back to 2015 and our hero is fighting for the less fortunate once again, just in an office this time. She's in a job interview at World Share, but the person who is interviewing her is not taken with her passion or ideas, so we see Char being interrupted before she erupts and storms out of the office. She's definitely someone who doesn't want to be in the "system". So, for now, she's stuck in her old job. As she's ruminating on her bad day she is caught by surprise when there are intruders in her apartment. She's more than excited when she finds out they are from the secretive organization, The Brotherhood. However, they are all more surprised when others knock on her door and claim to be from World Share. Things get messy very quickly.

Without going into spoilers and too many details, I'll say that after this altercation Char is off on her journey. It's an enlightening, messy, fun journey through time and against building odds and it's one that you might like to take with her. Secrets and deception, fear and loathing all in one epic volume. It's a captivating story and one that will keep you turning the pages. You definitely get the feeling that after five chapters, we're only at the beginning of the story. It's available in stores and on digital platforms starting today, May 25th. It's a great collection for a fan and a great introduction to something fun for someone new. Check it out!

Writers: Anthony Del Col & Conor McCreery
Artist: Neil Edwards
Colorist: Ivan Nunes
Letterer: Comicraft
Publisher: Titan Comics
FC - 128PP - $14.99 - On Sale: May 25