Feathered Quill Book Reviews

 #Bookreview of Essentials Vol. 1

By: Luke Arnold and Chris "Doc" Wyatt

Publisher: The Lab Press

Publication Date: February 25, 2025

ISBN: 978-1964226002

Reviewed by: Diana Coyle

Review Date: June 5, 2026

Mathematician Harris Pax has a premonition that the world is coming to an end, but he doesn’t prevent it from happening in Essentials Vol. 1 by Luke Arnold and Chris “Doc” Wyatt.

The world becomes post-apocalyptic and those left living in it find themselves in a warped reality. Stuffed toys are talking, people aren’t who they seem to be, and there are zombies out to kill everyone. But are all these occurrences truly happening? What can Harris do to restore the world as he knew it?

This isn’t a book that this reviewer would normally read, but the blurb and the cover were very attention-grabbing. The storyline, right from the start, was rich with details that would entertain sci-fi/fantasy readers and keep them engrossed until the very last page in this graphic novel. The storyline was enjoyable and often times humorous, so much so that readers will find themselves chuckling at what’s being said or what’s happening in a scene.

Although some of the characters were so off-the-wall at times, even with their oddities, they were believable to readers. They molded together well, whether they were odd or not, and they only enhanced the storyline being told.

The illustrations provided throughout this graphic novel were done by six artists and it was amazing how well each page blended into the next. It was a surprise to find that a team of artists did it together. Each artist had exceptional talent in illustrating their pages and all provided one cohesive book for readers to enjoy. Also, Bill Sienkiewicz was the cover artist of the book and he did a wonderful job presenting the cover illustration to set the tone of the story that would unfold once the book was opened. Other artists did illustrations for two additional covers for this story.

This debut graphic novel was written by Luke Arnold and Chris “Doc” Wyatt. Although not familiar with either author, this reviewer was pleasantly surprised to find out that Luke Arnold is a novelist, actor, and Emmy-nominated writer. Chris “Doc” Wyatt is a producer as well as a writer. He is known for many popular movie titles.

Quill says: If you are looking for a sci-fi/fantasy graphic novel with a unique storyline, well-developed, believable characters and expertly crafted illustrations, look no further than Essentials Vol. 1. This book checks all the boxes and more!

For more information about Essentials Vol. 1, please visit the publisher's website at: thelabpress.com/pages/essentials