In a new take on the traditional superhero myth, DOT Comics has introduced a new hero to the world of comic books with the new series Earthruler. Drawn in black-and-white, the series follows exiled extra-terrestrial Rykaal, banished from his homeworld for inciting a world war, in his travels to Earth and the birth of a hero.

In the opening chapter to this series, Rykaal relives the events in his life that leads him into becoming the hero he’s destined to be. While the story is told in black and white, the progression of the plot is very well done, with writer Darrin O’Toole creating a complex and provocative adaptation on the original superhero story. While it borrows heavily from the origins of the very first major superhero, Superman, there are enough differences that this story can be thought of as an interesting homage to the Man of Steel himself, and not direct theft. With only the main introduction of the tale told through the first chapter of the series, it will be interesting to see where Rykaal’s story goes from here.

Speaking of O’Toole, his work has really begun to show off the talent he’s built through his other endeavors. While the story is only in the beginning stages, O’Toole is showing great skill with plot structure and progression. While there’s a bit of a lack of true emotional connection based on his words, the story itself is well done, and O’Toole seems to really have a knack for dialog and narration.

Artist Shawn Langley is a newcomer, according to the company, but his work shows some great skill. The black and white art style is a bit off-putting at first, but the figure-work is spot on, even with non-human figures. The detail work is a bit blurred sometimes, and lighting effects are basically nonexistent with this kind of coloring, but given the style the book goes for, the artwork is very good.

Summary: A re-telling of the original superhero origin story, Earthruler is a series that takes a familiar tale and gives it a brand new spin. With solid writing and artwork, this series looks like it’s going to be a big hit for the publisher, DOT Comics. If the reader can ignore the obvious influence of Superman and enjoy the series for what it is, this is a title that fans of superhero comics are sure to enjoy.

The Good: Solid Writing And Artwork, Great Plot Progression

The Bad: Origin Story Is Too Similar To Superman’s

The Ugly: Black And White Coloring Causes A Lack Of Detail

Score: 7.0