Advance Review: ‘Project Riese’ #1 Is All Setup (And That’s Probably Okay)

Welcome to the table,

If you tell me there is a lost complex or a hidden city, I want to know more. I want to know how they prepared food. I want to know how they powered the city. I want to know who lived there, and why they decided on that space, and how long it was sustainable. When you tell me there is something hidden and abandoned and it was once teaming with life, every fiber of my brain wants to know the story. I don’t want to hear the step. I don’t want to wait for a commercial break. I want to know now!

Project Riese seems to be going that route, but issue one is all set up, and maybe that is okay.

Project Riese is Mad Cave Studios’ new historical science fiction series. Written by Zac Thompson, illustrated by Jeff McComsey, with colors by Paul Little, and lettered by Justin Birch, the story is a blend of historical fiction and heist capers, and it seems to have just a touch of horror monster bubbling up around the edges.

If you like the story beats of Uncharted, Hunters, or Overlord, Project Riese seems to be building to something that falls within that vibe.

The story takes place in  1952 with the horrors of the second world war still fresh and front of mind. Sam Safdie and his ragtag group of treasure hunters have been searching for the fabled map of the Owl Mountains for years, and they have finally found it.

The ensemble cast feels diverse, without coming off as token-esque. The pacing is good, and I honestly wanted ten more pages when I got to the end of the issue. If making me wait a month to know what comes next was the intent, then this team knocked it out of the park. It’s not a cliffhanger, and it’s not a big moment, but it sure as hell has me curious about where this whole thing is going.

Project Riese #1 goes on sale on August 2, 2023, and you can order an issue at your LCS today.

Until next time, if you hear about any hidden or lost cities let me know.