Royals, by Derek Kirk Kim and Jacob Pérez

(You can also read this review in Spanish/También puedes leer esta reseña en español)

The premise of Royals caught my attention from the very first time I saw it. In this comic, written by Derek Kirk Kim and illustrated by Jacob Pérez, two brothers who share a telepathic bond use their abilities to win poker tournaments in different countries around the world. That is, until they arrive in Seoul, where things get complicated after they find themselves tangled up in a dispute with an organized crime boss.

From this starting point, the plot gradually evolves into a story of the mob, revenge, ambition, and a touch of madness. Perhaps this is what I liked most about Royals: it knows how to start with a clear direction and then slowly complicate the situation, consistently surprising the reader and offering something new in every issue. And it does all of this by following a fairly logical sequence, without taking any blind leaps.

The two protagonist brothers might not be the most charismatic characters in comic book history, but they are complemented by some very interesting supporting characters whose pasts are especially relevant to the story's development. This forces them to face moral dilemmas whose resolutions, although somewhat predictable at times, ultimately prove to be quite satisfying.

Jacob Pérez's artwork perfectly fits both the tone of the story and the characters introduced. He has a style halfway between manga and cartoon that blends incredibly well with the South Korean setting. Furthermore, Pérez handles the action scenes wonderfully; they feel dynamic and are crystal clear for the reader.

In short, Royals is a comic that knows how to evolve beyond its initial premise, consistently giving the reader something more and keeping them hooked from start to finish. The miniseries consists of six issues, with the final one going on sale in early September. Additionally, a collected volume has already been announced (which I had the opportunity to read in an advanced digital review copy), set to be published in November.