Step By Bloody Step #1
| Writer | Simon Spurrier |
| Artist | Matias Bergara |
| Cover Price | $4.99 |
An armored giant and a helpless child. Together they cross an astonishing world brimming with beasts, bandits, and-deadliest by far-civilizations... If they stop walking, the earth itself forces them onwards. WHY? The child can't ask. She and her guardian have no language, no memory, nothing-except each other.
Multiple-Eisner nominees SI SPURRIER (X-Men), MATIAS BERGARA (Coda), and MATHEUS LOPES (Supergirl) present a watershed moment in modern comics: four double-length chapters of a bittersweet fantasy opus, completely text free.
Let's take a walk.
"STEP BY BLOODY STEP may be my new favorite comic. SPURRIER, BERGARA,
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CRITIC REVIEWS Back to Top
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10
Comics Bookcase - Steve Baxi
Feb 07, 2022Spurrier, Bergara, Lopes and Price create as close to a perfect comic as possible. Every element of the art, layouts, colors and narrative is firing on all cylinders. Read Full Review
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10
Big Comic Page - Craig Neilson-Adams
Feb 13, 2022A stunning achievement of both ambition and execution, Step by Bloody Step is a near flawless offering from a creative team at the absolute top of their game. Highest possible recommendation for this one, folks. Read Full Review
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10
BGCP - Andy MacGregor
Feb 22, 2022How can a book work without any text? By having a fascinating storyline and being visually captivating. It shouldn't work but it does and it does it really well! Si Spurrier should be commended for the storytelling in this book and the artwork from Matias Bergara is simply stunning. I urge you to pick this book up if you get the chance. Image Comics really have another winner this series. Read Full Review
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10
ComicBook.com - Chase Magnett
Feb 23, 2022Step By Bloody Step #1 is, simply put, a masterclass in visual storytelling. Read Full Review
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9.6
The Super Powered Fancast - Deron Generally
Feb 23, 2022Bergara delivers some stunning art in this first issue. With the story being almost completely visual in its telling, the art conveys everything that the story is trying to convey and you take the visual journey Bergara is crafting. Read Full Review
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9.5
COMICON - Tom Smithyman
Jan 31, 2022What happens when an all-star team creates a comic book story that is text-free? It turns out to be one of the most personal takes for a generation. Read Full Review
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9.5
AIPT - David Brooke
Feb 11, 2022Spurrier and Bergara have done an excellent job pacing this story as it draws you into the world around the characters, but also the deeper mystery. Step by Bloody Step #1 is a force; a story that's eye-catching, intriguing, and endearing. It's a mix of beautiful art, but also a challenge to conventional comics as we attempt to understand its subtly. Step by Bloody Step feels special as it blends wonderment, menace, and a story that feels timeless, like a new fairy tale that'll be told for ages unfolding before our eyes. Read Full Review
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9.5
Geek'd Out - Michael Farris Jr.
Feb 23, 2022Image Comics gives us yet another powerful, emotive wordless comic filled with imaginative artwork and a hero's journey featuring two vastly different protagonists. Based on this first issue, I'm a little morose that we only get to suit up for three more. Read Full Review
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9.4
Black Nerd Problems - Mikkel Snyder
Feb 23, 2022We know as much about the world as the protagonists and witnessing the start of their odyssey was a true pleasure. I have loved Spurrier's stories in the past and while a textless comic is a hard sell, I think the entire creative team rose to the occasion and this is a must buy. Read Full Review
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9.1
Multiversity Comics - Matthew Blair
Feb 25, 2022While the book requires a bit of patience from its readers, if you take the time to concentrate youll find characters that are fascinating and heartwarming with an intriguing story and breathtaking artwork. Read Full Review
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9.0
COMICON - Tito W. James
Feb 01, 2022Sensual art and a gripping emotional mystery Step by Bloody Step delivers a saga that's louder than words. Read Full Review
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9.0
GWW - Nick Friar
Feb 21, 2022The world Bergara and Matheus Lopes illustrate feels quite vast. Because there's no dialogue, it allows the reader to take more in. While that can be a lot at times, there are slight lulls in the action to give readers a chance to gather themselves or even circle back when needed. Read Full Review
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9.0
Monkeys Fighting Robots - Zac Owens
Feb 23, 2022STEP BY BLOODY STEP from Image Comics is gorgeous and moving. This creative team has done mountains of worldbuilding without uttering a single word. Frankly, it's the kind of storytelling you have to see to believe. Read Full Review
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9.0
Lotusland Comics - Hank Rea
Feb 25, 2022'Step by Bloody Step' #1 arrives with an impressive display of comic book craftsmanship in a riveting adventure with nary a line of text. Engaging, exciting, endearing, and emotive, 'Step' reaches a level of storytelling unlike many new comics even those with thousands of words of dialogue and narration. The creative team's expertise in immersive world-building and character development with striking visuals and meaningful action elevates this comic to one of the best debuts of the year. Read Full Review
USER REVIEWS Back to Top
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10
This is the only issue I'll review because I'll wait to buy the collected trade of this series once it comes out, hopefully soon. As for the review? Well, it was recommended by literally all of my favorite writers, and the hype is well warranted: just like there are no words in this story, there are no words to describe just how high the quality and dedication on this comic is. Just by the drawings alone, it tells a touching and compelling story about what seems to be a journey, rebirth and second chances. And there are also bits of the story where people actually speak, but in an unreadable language just to give the sense that this is a world in which there are cultures, and faction. So, for now this a ten for me. So check it out, people, more
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10
Wow
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9.5
This book has received high praise. It warrants it. What they are able to accomplish with nothing but masterful art is impressive for anyone. But for the issue to be so expressive and carry so much emotional weight just by using things we are all familiar with is what truly sells it. Well worth picking up.
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9.5
An absolute masterclass in sequential art. Simon Spurrier is known for his carefully crafted prose, but here he provides a rollercoaster of emotional plot beats that Matias Bergera just draws the hell out of. There's so much character packed into every little event.
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9.5
Had to wait a week to get the issue, and damn was it worth the wait. It's hard to do anything else but echo some of the other reviews in that this is basically a perfect 1st issue. Matias Bergara packs so much emotion into every page and each panel flows perfectly into the next. Spurrier is on a pretty ridiculous roll right now too. Everything he's putting out is high quality.
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8.5
This is obviously beautiful, and maybe it's just me, but I have a tough time following stories with no words at all. I love the art and story but there are too many ambiguous interpretations (and occasionally scenes) for me to get a clear read on it yet.
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8.0
It was okay, not quite sure what the fuss is about yet.
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8.0
Pretty cool. I have guesses about the importance of this child. I am still confused about the panels where the ground seems to explode between the child and little things they want, like the flower... Is the armored giant making the ground explode somehow, what's going on?
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8.0
Good series so far. Some of the panels were confusing as to what was happening and why.
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7.0
No thanks, just not for me. The art was good but the paneling made everything very confusing and the lack of words didn't help the story one bit. We didn't necessarily need any dialogue but some simple narration could have been very effective.
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2025 In Review:
