Artesia Afire #1

"Prologue," the opening chapter of Artesia Afire #1, introduces Mark Smylie’s strikingly detailed world through a tense standoff at the Tauria bridge, where Artesia and her allies corner the remnants of the Thessid-Golan vanguard. With a fragile truce negotiated through a solemn oath—backed by noble hostages—Smylie’s bold artwork and tight storytelling set the stage for a conflict simmering beneath the surface. The issue’s cover, also by Smylie, captures the moment’s gravity in stark, expressive lines.