When kids are suddenly infected with a disease from outer space and begin forming mysterious superpowers, they become “Children of the Plague.” These children are rounded up, tested on, and put into battle by the evil Valmount Corporation. Remy, a young female Indo-American infectee who develops powers of her own, must fight to free herself and her brother from a life of war and servitude. Can they find a way to free themselves?

Robert Love has crafted a simple, yet compelling story that is simultaneously fantastical and relatable, with characters who are easily identifiable. The setting is ambiguous in terms of time and location, but understandable in its structure. Jeffrey Kimbler’s art meshes well with Love’s storytelling and art. At its core, Children of the Plague is about freedom, family, and revenge.

Children of the Plague does a good job laying the foundation for a compelling journey that, based on the first issue, seems a tad too simplistic to get me excited about any further stories. This book ends with the promise that we’ll see Remy’s adventure continue, but to my surprise, this issue is a one-shot. I’m hopeful that Dark Horse rethinks the one-shot label on the cover and gives Love’s storytelling and art a chance to develop because both show great potential.