Catalyst is a fantasy webcomic series written and drawn by Esther Chuah. It's an on-going series with parts 1 - 5 completed. The plot centers around Kai' who has been left blind with a strange tattoo after a severe illness nearly claimed her life when she was a young girl. She also experiences strange dreams once in a while that sometimes gives her a glimpse of the future to come.
One day, Kai' is left alone by her brother Rune who has to go to work. Her independent spirit meant she felt impatient waiting for Rune to return, so Kai' decided to journey on her own through the forest. It's not long before she encounters an interesting race of foxes who save her life. One of them in particular recognises Kai' to possess an unique gift that they had previously thought a human could never carry.
The foxes, Kai' and Rune are in danger because of this very ability so they must journey on their way to somewhere safe. They are joined by two travellers who happen to be going on the same route, however their true motives remain hidden and their friend Re the fox senses something sinister about them.
I came across this webcomic while browsing through general fantasy webcomics online. I was intrigued by the premise of the story so I began reading the first chapter. After reading for a while, I simply had to keep reading to find out what happens to Kai' and her brother.
While Kai' might appear to be the main focus at first, the story shifts back occasionally to the woman known as Elei who seems to have a much larger agenda that ultimately involves Kai'. Elei has a dark secret that she's keeping to herself, even from her loyal soldier companion. There's an air of naivety too, mostly from Kai' who is a very trusting person by nature.
While observing Kai' and her big brother Rune get into trouble throughout the issue, I was struck at how beautiful the setting is drawn in the comic. It's an imaginative fantasy world that you just want to be living in. As the pair travel deeper into the forest, beautifully painted lush scenery greets you on each page, and I found myself wishing I was there.
Catalyst is definitely a must-read if you consider yourself a fantasy fan. It starts off with a slow pace, but you'll find yourself interested in the story before long and the meaning of the title "Catalyst" is explained in the course of the storyline.
The author has her own website for "Catalyst" where you can read the issues online, as well as a forum for discussion on the webcomic. |
