A Righteous Thirst For Vengeance

A Righteous Thirst For Vengeance #1-11

by Rick Remender, André Lima Araújo (Artist)

When an unassuming man stops vicious dark web contract assassins from killing their target, he turns himself into one. A quiet, atmospheric slice-of-life story with sudden bouts of unique and brutal violence. New York Times-bestselling writer RICK REMENDER (SEVEN TO ETERNITY, DEADLY CLASS) and mega-star artist ANDRÉ LIMA ARAÚJO (GENERATION GONE, THE WICKED + THE DIVINE) present the story of an unlikely surrogate to a boy hunted by powerful men who are used to getting away with everything.

The entirety of the critically acclaimed series A RIGHTEOUS THIRST FOR VENGEANCE is collected here in one giant prestige edition, loaded with variant covers, sketches, model sheet designs, raw inks, and script pages and presented in the ultimate oversized format to enjoy this groundbreaking series.

Collects A RIGHTEOUS THIRST FOR VENGEANCE #1-11

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Crime, Fiction, Thriller, Comic Book, Graphic Novels Comics

334 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 25, 2023

About the author

Rick Remender is an American comic book writer and artist who resides in Los Angeles, California. He is the writer/co-creator of many independent comic books like Black Science, Deadly Class, LOW, Fear Agent and Seven to Eternity. Previously, he wrote The Punisher, Uncanny X-Force, Captain America and Uncanny Avengers for Marvel Comics.

Reviews

[Donovan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I think Remender peaked long ago. While cinematically illustrated and a departure from his usual Michael Bay bombast shoot ‘em ups, this is like Tarantino without all the humor, quirks, intelligence or heart. It’s depressing, indulgently grotesque, and at moments torture-porn. And perhaps most importantly, the characters are cardboard cutouts quickly whisked along the too-long pauses and blood-soaked firefights. I just didn’t care one bit.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this!
This was a different pacing to anything I’ve read before and it was really enjoyable for most of the book to be told mainly through the art (which on the deluxe edition was stunning). Also was surprised how much this story got me invested in the characters with not a lot of background.
Overall enjoyed this type of story telling a lot and is another Rick Remender book I’ve loved.

[OmniBen · Rating 1 out of 5]

(Zero spoiler review)
Rick Remender thinks there is a five word limit on sentences.
Rick Remender may just be allergic to proper characterisation.
Rick Remender thinks that every quarter baked, one eighth assed ideas of his deserves to be released into library edition format.
Rick Remender has just used up the last nano particle of credit he still had in the bank with me.

19% of a main character goes on the run with other miniscule fractions of what I'm lead to believe are characters. Nothing at all original or well implemented happens. Sorry, I wasn't meant to spoil anything.
Trash like this makes me hate comics, and I don't want to hate comics. 1/5


OmniBen.

[DC · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well paced and extremely well illustrated. The cinematic story telling of this was really well crafted and could make a really good movie (with Benedict Wong as the lead of course).

I think this might be the first Remender book I’ve actually finished. Something about some of his creative choices don’t always click for me. Which ultimately is why I didn’t end up giving this a 5 star rating. I liked the main character Sonny quite a bit, but was not fully satisfied with the ending.

—SPOILERS—

The fact that Remender decided to Kill off Sonny, one issue before the end, doesn’t per se, bother me. That’s a huge swing on his part, that I can appreciate, though I didn’t really love. What I did find myself having issue with however was simply how no character really seemed to matter to him (Remender), as they all die without hesitation. The mother of Xavier (I can’t remember her name… if it’s even said…), the militia guy who trains Sonny, Sonny himself, etc. it makes the moments in this start to feel… idk, hollow maybe? In addition to that, after Sonny gets killed a dude Remender showed earlier in the story, but barely, suddenly shows up to save the Xavier. He trains him (I guess?), then when Xavier is older he and that guy go to the jail where the big bad that caused this all is being held, and kills him. I didn’t have an issue with that ended specifically, but I also kind of felt nothing for it either. Which ultimately is my issue with Remender story telling. It’s by no means bad, but it’s lacking something to make me fully care.

That being said, I liked it. It was a VERY quick read. I think I was done in about an hour or so. It was entertaining. The art was top notch. I’d recommend it to other people, but I’m not sure I’ll ever revisit it myself.

[Callum Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well shit. Might be the best comic I've ever read, not too complicated, beautifully illustrated with a completely satisfying end. Brutal and delightful

[Yaroslav Chernovol · Rating 4 out of 5]

«Справедлива жага помсти» («A Righteous Thirst for Vengeance») від сценариста Ріка Ремендера та художника Андре Араухо. Колір Кріс О‘Галлоран.

Загалом цілком стандартний бойовик з цілком стандартними поворотами сюжету. Але самим смачним його робить саме малюнок та колір. Тексту тут не так багато. Але коли читаєш комікс. Таке враження, що дивишся бойовик. Фрейми самі вибудовуються в сцени. І малюнок доволі детальний і кольоровий. 

Сюжет же розказує про ...., який випадково приходить на місце вбивства, залишає свої сліди та після цього починаються розслідування, погоні, переховування, рятування жертви, вирощення сина ну і звісно що помста. 

В збірку увійшло 11 номерів. Закінчена історія.

#Remender #комікси

[Kamil Zawiślak · Rating 1 out of 5]

This reminded me of Lemire's usual 'fill the gaps yourself' ordeal. I mean... this was cheesy, shallow and without any depth? Nice art though.

So... who was the main character anyway and why should I care he adopted a boy... Ah, whatever.

[Sevki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those rare instances where I would actually give 3 stars if based on story, but the art and coloring -not to mention to edition itself- were all incredible so directly rounding up to 4 stars. Details below.

EDITION

This Deluxe edition is just crazy! I have several oversized hardcovers, compendiums etc. in my library but this was by far THE BEST DELUXE I had encountered and had. I was looking at the two TPBs for a total of 17$, and when I realized the Deluxe was just 25$ I thought OK let’s do this, without knowing the size and quality of the printing! Even all the pages are just like artwork since they are so thick. So if you are reading this review before purchasing, trust me just go get the Deluxe rather than the TPBs. Easily 5/5, even 6 if had been possible.

STORY

It could have been easily prolonged to 3, 4 or maybe even 5 volumes with at least 20+ chapters so I am a little confused at that part. Most of the action and story were so packed that I felt the need to make more room for it. I don’t know the exact reason(s) for a limited 11-issue run so the story rating is 3/5 for me. Still fun, but could have been much better!

ART & COLORING

I always enjoy a graphic novel / comic / manga much more if the art is superior, and this was one of those cases. Soooo good! Easily 4/5.

OVERALL

A well deserved 4/5 from me. Some reviewers went ahead of themselves and gave 1 or 2 stars stating “the dialogues were so limited”. So? What if they are? How does it make the book bad? Are you that delusional and obsessed that you just fixate on it and ignore all the good parts? Just skip those please. Not every graphic novel has to have a gigantic amount of words. Some can be good this way as well.

Enjoy, people!

[Fraser Simons · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is just really great, though very gruesome and intense, visual storytelling. It is extremely cinematic and gives the illustrator room to show off; which he does, often. I think the less you know going in, the better. Basically, a seemingly average guy may or may not be a killer, takes a job for a hit. When he gets there though, things go sideways. And not in the way you’d think.

This continues pretty much every issue, subverting expectations. There’s a lot of blood and violence, but it is punctuated with human moments that do a lot for character building. The story spans years but it is also myopic in what it’s about. There is a laser intensity and not much, though some, thematic discourse provoked. It’s really meant to be just a wild ride. And wild it is.

I am very glad I waited for the oversized hardcover too. The art is just impeccable and the addition of the script in the back is always a nice extra. The best feature for any comic is seeing the bones of something you love, I think.

[Myles Gerber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Visually this book is stellar and cinematic in a way no comic I have ever read quite manages to achieve. While the story isn’t the deepest thing in the world, Remender manages to deliver it in a way that is incredibly unique and interesting, using very few words to convey his message on the page. This book is brutal and violent but still manages to deliver a happy ending, and I was afraid that it wouldn’t. Overall I enjoyed it quite a lot and while it is not my favourite book I’ve read from Image I will say that I enjoyed it a lot more than I expected to.

[Joshua Schultz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read the individual books straight through—absolutely loved it. I cannot fathom how much work goes into telling a story this big this succinctly. This is a story about good versus evil and how truly brutal the struggle is. Literally the only thing I don’t like about this was the title. Is it a reference to something?

[James Doherty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exhilarating start! Dipped a touch in the middle but then a strong ending. Part of me feels the ending was a tad lazy as you know whose story it copied (not defending that person's story in anyway) but was an interesting twist.

Loved the reliance on art to tell much of the story. That shows confidence which really shines.

[Connor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not much dialogue and no narration. It really lets the images speak. Makes great use of the comic format. Unfortunately it is very graphic, which makes it hard to recommend. I don't know if it's just me, but the main character Sonny reminds me so much of Benedict Wong.

[Soteralzobooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.8 digit

[ShamNoop · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining, if unoriginal and lazy at times. Would make a good movie.

[Spencer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read in one go! Dug the art style and the flow of the piece. Very cinematic feeling and moves at a very fast pace, although I appreciated the brief moments of calm that each character enjoys, like the wind blowing through Xavier's hand. Like the equivalent of a no-frills action thriller. Downside of the no-frills aspect though is there wasn't much substance or depth to it. The sparse dialogue sometimes works, sometimes not so much. At its best, the dialogue feels natural and fluid while never wasting a panel on anything unnecessary. At its worst, it left me wanting more from the characters and from the story and feeling a little lost.

As well, while I can handle my fair share of blood and guts, but I found the level of detail given to the violence veered into being gratuitous. I often find authors try to make their story world feel darker and more violent by doubling down on the acts of violence themselves, but it doesn't expand upon the universe, it just makes me flip those pages a little faster. This book has so many good moments where nothing (or very little) is said, and I feel that same "less is more" approach could have been applied to the nastier sequences.

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was a pretty intense read. I definitely could see this in movie form. Or a limited series done like each issue.

[Joshua K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Its nice to see Remender do something tighter than his long epic, high concept, things he likes to do. Araújo’s art is gorgeous, so much energy in those fight scenes.

[Rick Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easily one of Rick Remender's best series, and it might be because of how little A Righteous Thirst for Vengeance leans on exposition compared to Remender's other books. Instead, the script is spare for the most part and allows André Lima Araújo to really do the heavy lifting by telling the story by artwork. I originally read this series in single issues as they came out, and I still think that first issue is just a masterclass in (mostly) wordless storytelling.

The series stars a rather reserved man named Sonny who in the course of his time serving as an insurance claim investigator, stumbles upon a device connected to the dark web. Curious, he realizes that there are people out there in danger due to open assassination contracts. Though Sonny is hardly qualified to do anything about it, he manages to take the access information of the psychotic hitman known only as the Blue Jackal and infilitrates a job. Things go awry quickly and Sonny is caught up in a complex web of crime involving human trafficking and murder. But A Righteous Thirst for Vengeance isn't just a crime thriller comic. Instead Remender and Araújo allow for a decent amount of quiet, slice-of-life moments that are only sometimes interrupted with scenes of grisly tortures and murders. The series is notably much more realistic than Remender's other well known Image titles, and I prefer it for that reason.

As mentioned earlier, the star of the show here is Araújo who capably tells a lot of the story with artwork alone. The comic is notably missing any narration - the entire story is told with art and short bursts of dialogue. The conversations are all realistic insofar as there is no forced exposition and how they might sound if someone were to casually overhear only a fraction of their conversation. The sparseness of the script does require the reader to fill in some gaps, but this isn't a complicated comic by any means so it was easy enough to follow along (much easier in a binge read compared to reading this in monthly installments). Araújo's artwork is dynamic throughout - he does establishing shots excellently and the up close slice-of-life moments are all quite moving. The artwork is nicely supplemented by Chris O'Hallaran's coloring who manages to add a lot of depth with his use of warm and vibrant colors.

[Alexander Asay · Rating 2 out of 5]

An unassuming man stumbles into a dark web assassination plot and takes matters into his own hands in this graphic novel by Rick Remender, which tries to blend the mundane with the macabre but often falls flat.

Remender's narrative follows a protagonist whose everyday life is disrupted by his accidental involvement in a high-stakes assassination scheme. The premise is intriguing, promising a mix of slice-of-life with sudden bursts of violence. However, the execution feels somewhat lacking. The pacing is uneven, with too much time spent on the protagonist's routine which does little to advance the plot or develop his character beyond the initial setup.

The artwork, while visually appealing with its atmospheric depiction of urban landscapes, sometimes overshadows the storytelling. The reliance on visuals to convey narrative depth leaves the dialogue sparse, making it hard to connect with characters who are more sketched than developed. This minimalist approach to dialogue can lead to a disconnect, where the emotional stakes don't resonate as they should.

The series attempts to explore themes of vengeance, justice, and the impact of violence on ordinary lives but does so with a heavy hand. The moral complexity of the protagonist's transformation from bystander to vigilante is not explored with the nuance it deserves, rendering the story's climax predictable rather than poignant.

Overall, "Righteous Thirst for Vengeance" does well in setting a mood but struggles to maintain engagement through its narrative arc. It's a commendable effort for its aesthetic and thematic ambition, yet it leaves one thirsting for a more cohesive and compelling storyline.

[Somnium · Rating 3 out of 5]

Why is it on my shoulders? 'Cause I just happened to be here?

Kul triler, totalno filmska priča, brza vožnja, čitanje gotovo u jednom dahu. Nema smornih monologa i dijaloga, zapravo reči je malo. Ali ima dark weba, naručenih ubistava, trgovine ljudima, zlostavljanja, korupcije, jurnjave, pucnjave i pomalo pravde i topline. Za objašnjenje kako se biraju žrtve, zašto im se dešavaju sva sranja koja im se dešavaju i kako su međusobno povezani, smo uskraćeni. Delovalo mi kao da je pisac samo zagrebao po površini jednog organizovanog kriminala.

Da li tripujem ili glavni lik liči na nekog glumca? Tipa na Song Kang-hoa (u npr. Memories of Murder)? Ili Ma Dong-seoka?



Crtež je kul. Scena u prvom broju s golubom je tužna istina o svetu danas.

[Nicko · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5 stars*

I liked this. It was solid. Araújo’s and O’Halloran’s art are the big winners here. I’m not saying anything new. Remender wrote a fine story, one that we’ve seen plenty of times in film/TV, and did better there. But, it’s not to say that A RIGHTEOUS THIRST FOR VENGEANCE is bad, it’s just thats its story basic but elevated with some intense, really well-drawn action and violence. Like another said here, I thought the most interesting issue was the last one, where we see Andrew’s being held temporarily in the facility as a nice build up to see Xavier cathartically kill him. Even with a last second revelation that Andrews was his father. But the rest of the book’s plot was really straightforward and when you’re a huge fan of this genre and have eaten it up elsewhere, this one just pales in comparison. Still, glad I got the deluxe OHC because it’s a really gorgeous comic.

[Cruz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Remender showing that he can do work that feels much more complete with focus and length under control.

I'll freely admit to simultaneously loving the journeys in his series, but being frequently disappointed with how he finishes them. Deadly Class? Amazing - until the end. Low, Black Science? Same (except I was partial to the end of Black Science, even if I acknowledge that it felt lazy.)

This limited series was intense and emotional. Did he nail the ending? No, but it felt predictable instead of low impact. It resolves, as opposed to fizzles. The artwork and pacing are also top notch. Remender also tends to be wordy and expository, but here, the story plays out. It's frequently short, emphatic and meaningful. Fully recommended!

[TheMadReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

If there was ever a comic book story which needs to be adapted into an HBO short series, it’s this.

Cinematic and interesting through out. My only other knowledge of Rick Remender was his run on Punisher, which I personally wasn’t a fan of but if there’s more depth to his writing like this, I’m jumping on the bandwagon and purchasing all of his books to form a true opinion on him as a creator!

The art in this was simply fantastic. André Lima Arajo captures the storyboard feel perfectly.

Beautiful book from Image as well, worth every penny.

5/5 for me!

[Adam Schmersal · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.4 rounded down. The story and artwork are incredible—the layout, linework, and colors are all truly exceptional. The only two criticisms I have are 1. The fact that it crossed into being unnecessarily horrifically violent (and sexual at points) to the point of pure disgust at times, and 2. That I really didn’t want the story to end—I feel it could have expanded the final act a lot more and would’ve benefitted from it. This was an excellent crime read, but definitely be advised that the violence and sexual content are very graphic and realistic.

[David W · Rating 3 out of 5]

Has the same problem as Remender's other series, LOW, where the structure and characters suffer from paltry, spartan conception. But also like LOW, it's a damn good start to something that could have been so much better.

Wears the ROAD TO PERDITION inspiration candidly. The morbidly ugly villain is certainly modeled from a Trump-Epstein amalgam, a truly vile composite of shit. Araújo's artwork dances along the uncommon line of being simple and clean, very detailed, crisp, and rather beautiful.

[Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story echoes events from the past few years, and by the end it’s pretty clear where the inspiration comes from if you follow the news at all. That’s not a bad thing it makes everything feel strikingly relevant, especially with its focus on power and privilege pulling the strings.

Some characters feel a bit one-dimensional at times, but the incredible art more than makes up for it. The flow from page to page is seamless and keeps you hooked.

Not for the faint-hearted though, as it gets seriously violent in places.

[Shaun Stanley · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 rounded down to 4

A Righteous Thirst For Vengeance collects issues 1-12 of the Image Comics series written by Rick Remender, illustrated by André Lima Araújo, and colors by Chris O’Halloran.

A man stumbles upon a dark web based assassin contracting site and takes it upon himself to infiltrate the org from the inside.

This book is so incredibly messed up but a fantastic revenge story. I had only planned to read the first couple of issues before making dinner but I couldn’t put it down. The story just grabbed me and wouldn’t let go. It’s a methodical book that continued to never go the way my mind thought the story would progress, always keeping me on edge. What I most loved about the book was actually how simple it was. It perfectly uses archetype characters to tell a very believable story.

And the art! This felt like reading a tight and thrilling movie - it’s incredibly cinematic in its design and narrative. Araújo and O’Halloran craft a beautiful book in all its grotesque nature. The oversized hardback deluxe edition also provides a wealth of art progression and behind the scenes look at the creative process.

If you are a fan of twisted stories of vengeance, this book is for you!

[Nevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The kind of story that you're only going to find in comics. The X-rated violence, gore, and everything else would make this commercial poison in any other market. The rare times anyone would try, you'd either find a hack creating in an awful work that they think is amazing, or you'd find a once-in-a-generation genius who got their vision made despite all the hurdles. Only here in comics would you see solid artists turning in a good-not-great work like this.

[David Miles · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had read the first issue a while back, glad I waited for this deluxe edition. It's much more satisfying to read a complete are story.

This book is brutal and violent. It uses images to convey it's story. Dialog is sparse, and the book is better for it.

The main bad guy looks like Steve Bannon, fuck that guy.