Things will go from bad to worse for Roden, the soldier who showed mercy to his enemy in 2022’s Mezo: Battle at Coban Rock. Creator and writer Tyler Chin-Tanner and artists Val Rodrigues, Gab Contreras and Varga Tomi return to the world of Mezo this May with Mezo: The Trial of Roden.
The five-issue miniseries from A Wave Blue World will kick off on May 1, when Chin-Tanner will welcome co-writer Jarred Luján to the team. While Mezo is set in a past where magic is real, the book’s strength comes from its gripping wartime adventure, political intrigue, old-world combat and character moments.
“There really is some beautiful character work in Mezo, and this entire volume, I think, speaks to that,” Luján said. “While the book obviously centers on Roden after his arrest for sparing Uhna’s life, one of my favorite parts really is Kyma and her quest for vengeance against Phegor. A lot has happened in two volumes of this series, but this really feels like the biggest collision point since Vuh started this war back in the debut issue.”
Courtesy of A Wave Blue World, we’re pleased to present an exclusive preview of Rodrigues’ art from the first issue.
“One of the things I was most excited for when we got back to Mezo was to see how Val would apply some of his new art techniques. He’s been visualizing this unique fantasy world through volumes 1 and 2, and he’s taking it to a whole new level with volume three. You can see how he’s starting to play around with page layout and make the visual style of this series his own,” said Chin-Tanner.
Check out the first issue’s covers, solicitation information and the preview below.
![](https://i0.wp.com/smashpages.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Mezo_TheTrialOfRoden_01_CoverA_Rodrigues.jpg?resize=666%2C1024&ssl=1)
Mezo: The Trial of Roden #1 (of 5)
In the land of Mezo, the Tzalekuhl Empire sets out to conquer all surrounding territories, disrupting the peace that has lasted for generations. Only Kyma, the daughter of a fallen chief who refused to yield, stands in their way. In the aftermath of the Battle at Coban Rock, the Empire has reclaimed its dominance, but there is a traitor in the midst. Roden, the once faithful soldier, showed mercy to the enemy by aiding their escape. Now, he faces judgement before the Almighty Kuhl. Who will come to his defense? Old friends, fellow soldiers, and even bitter rivals will decide the fate of the man who once risked everything to save them all.
Inspired by Mesoamerican history and legends, Mezo is a totally unique fantasy adventure driven by war, political intrigue, and ancient magic!
Script: Tyler Chin-Tanner, Jarred Luján
Art: Val Rodrigues
Colors: Gab Contreras, Varga Tomi
Cover: Val Rodrigues
Variant Covers: Chris Shehan, Maria Wolf
On Sale Date: May 1, 2024
Item Code: MAR241345
Publisher: A Wave Blue World
32-page, full color comic, $4.99
Here’s the preview of Rodrigues’ artwork:
![](https://i0.wp.com/smashpages.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Mezo_TheTrialOfRoden_01_5.jpg?resize=840%2C636&ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/smashpages.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Mezo_TheTrialOfRoden_01_8.jpg?resize=675%2C1024&ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/smashpages.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Mezo_TheTrialOfRoden_01_16.jpg?resize=675%2C1024&ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/smashpages.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Mezo_TheTrialOfRoden_01_19.jpg?resize=840%2C592&ssl=1)
And here’s a look at the first issue’s variant covers by Maria Wolf and Chris Shehan:
![](https://i0.wp.com/smashpages.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Mezo_TheTrialOfRoden_01_CoverD_Wolf.jpg?resize=663%2C1024&ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/smashpages.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Mezo_TheTrialOfRoden_01_CoverB_Shehan.jpg?resize=666%2C1024&ssl=1)
Look for the first issue to arrive in stores on May 1.