Vattu

Vattu is an incredible fantasy webcomic (now sold as books) that has been ongoing for 12 years. I was lucky enough to only be aware of its existence after it ended earlier this year. I've just finished the series and will write this as a review of the entire thing.

Vattu tells the story of a nomadic tribe of people known as the Fluters that suddenly learn that the world is so much bigger than they thought, and get occupied by a Roman-esque empire. Vattu is then given as a child slave to said empire, which is pretty much where the story begins.

It's hard to explain why Vattu is such a compelling story. Vattu herself doesn't talk much, to the point where in some pages it feels like a wordless story. The story itself is slow paced, yet it's very interesting and nuanced. If you're expecting a fantasy epic with tons of action and blood-pumping excitement, this is NOT it. What you'll get is a slow rich fantasy with a massive variety of characters that'll make you constantly think about its world and where it's headed.

For a comic that is entirely free online, it trumps the vast majority of fantasy comics I've read. I wish there was more story in it, but for a free project that's been worked on for 12 (!!!) years, I can't really ask for more. Everyone should pick this up.

My only real problems are: 1) Why didn't anyone tell me about it sooner? 2) Why isn't it more popular!?

Having one of your story's major secondary characters never speak and literally have no facial expressions, is that the sign of an ambitious or a crazy comic author...? This is, so far, a very slow-paced story with few words overall, and while the illustrations are great and the characters and setting interesting... Not a lot happens in this first book, honestly. Still curious to keep reading and see where it is going.