Rai #7 Review: The Oncoming Storm

Rai #7 Cover A by Fritz Casas & Candace Han

 

After Rai defends a contingent of Roman soldiers from a horde of mutant animals in Rai #6, you might expect to see Rai in full-on Samurai mode again in Rai #7. Instead, writer Dan Abnett throws us a curveball.

 

 

Anyone who has ever been caught in a forest during a storm knows how defenseless it makes you feel. But in case readers haven't, letterer Dave Sharpe conveys the power of the howling, crashing wind.

 

A young woman, whom we glimpsed in Rai #6, appears and urges Rai and Raijin to follow. She leads them to a cargo pod that survived the fall of the orbital city of New Japan, and ushers them inside. 

Behind Rai and Raijin, colorist Andrew Dalhouse aids letterer Dave Sharpe in conveying just how violent this sudden storm is.

 

 

One of my favorite new characters in the Valiant Universe is Raijin. There's been a lot of talk about Rai's sense of humanity, but long-time readers know this little positronic being has feelings and sensibilities too. 

I like how out-of-sorts penciler Juan Jose Ryp makes him look, when Raijin gains a reprieve from the storm. 

 

But then another noise--not caused by a normal storm--comes from outside. Now Raijin seems much more than merely out-of-sorts.

Meanwhile, Rai's friend Lula, also known as Psylocke, fancies herself an expert in navigating this future world's version of the internet. She has already revealed Rai's presence to Bloodfather once. Still, she refuses to take Rai's warnings about Bloodfather seriously. Confident she will not draw the attention of the malignant Artificial Intelligence that once ruled New Japan, Lula follows breadcrumbs an older and wiser person would avoid. 

 

What will Lula find as she navigates the datastream? Will she draw Bloodfather's attention to her community? 

 

Rai #7 Cover B by Nethro Diaz and Candace Han

 

Will the cargo pod keep Rai and Raijin safe? And if so, what will they find when the storm passes? 

Oh, and who is the young woman we glimpsed in the last issue, and has just rescued Rai and Raijin from the storm?

 

Rai #7 Preorder Cover by Don Perlin & Andrew Dalhouse

Writer Dan Abnett piles up mystery upon mystery in this issue, making Rai #7 a crucial new chapter in this intriguing series.

Dragon Dave