Regicide #1 Review

Writer: Patrick Kindlon
Artists: Ludovic Lalliat, Rio Oka
Colorist: Ludovic Lalliat
Editor: James Hepplewhite
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: August 12^th, 2026

Previously in Regicide, A farmhand lives a simple life until village elders insist he set out for the capital with a dangerous stranger. Their mission? Kill the murderous viceroy of Transylvania.

Regicide #1 opens on the tranquil but poisoned countryside of Tara Rumaneasca. Mihas and the other peasants are working the field as a man in an iron mask passes by. After rescuing a fellow worker from a snake, the village elders call Mihas. The mysterious man asks Mihas to join him on a mission. The two travel together through the countryside until they are confronted by a group of bandits. Mihas proves to be adept at killing men. The two then arrive at a castle and ask to speak with the prefect named Lulila. After a brief meeting, it’s clear that she isn’t a fan of the man in the mask or his mission, and she reveals her true nature. Two short follow-up stories expand a little on the nature of the world and how others are dealing with the supposed corrupt king.

Regicide #1 introduces readers to a world that is dire, harsh, and grotesque. Every bit of narration drips with dramatic, poetic turns of phrase that emphasize just how bad this place is. Paired with the visuals, this style of writing does a commendable job of creating a nearly tangible atmosphere. A lot of this, though, feels like fancy gift wrapping over a lackluster present. The plot is painfully straightforward: the protagonist is introduced, they set out on a quest, and then they do some fighting. There isn’t much else added to it, so there’s a lack of emotional stakes here. There’s a bit of explanation of why the king needs to be killed, but it’s presented in a sort of vague way, so that it comes off as bit of a stretch that this would be enough to convince someone to set out to murder the dude. That aside, there is a strong old school sword and sorcery vibe to this book, and I can’t say that it isn’t fun seeing the hulking figure of Mihas pummeling guys and duking it out with demons.

The art in Regicide #1 revels in the heaviness of its thick dark lines. There’s no denying that when it comes to establishing a grim and twisted world, the style used here does wonders. Every person looks forlorn, ravaged by poverty and disease, or some other sort of ailment, and the land, even in its most serene moments, has a jaundiced look to it. I also appreciate how, at times, it seems to mimic woodcut art, which is pretty cool. On the other hand, this style doesn’t quite work well for the action sequences. There are a few moments where it’s difficult to make out what is happening, and there are also some odd sequencing problems where it feels like panels are missing, so you only get a result of an act of violence without actually seeing the act itself.

Regicide #1 relies heavily on the sense of place and the tone it sets visually and with some of the flourishes in the writing. But a puddle-deep plot and some muddiness to the art hamstring this comic in certain places, but for straightforward sword and sorcery adventure fun, you could do far worse. 3.5 out of 5 stars.

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