Dystopian images abound in The Few, Image’s newest post-apocalyptic series that promises a gaunt look at America after the disintegration of democracy. And yes, loyal students of this genre will already know what to expect: marauding villains, nuclear winters, and (of course) a handful of unlikely heroes.

Here’s the official word from Image Comics:

In a dystopian future, two survivalist brothers stumble across an unlikely sight: a woman asleep in the woods holding nothing but a gun and a baby wearing a gas mask. As these boys begin to embark on helping this woman, betrayals, secrets, and revolutions abound in the fight for what’s left of America.

Alas, we don’t know much about how America will end — at least for now. While Sean Lewis’ newest series is all about the end of our great union, and the corrupt fiefdoms that blossom out of the chaos, his inaugural issue is appropriately light on details. Sure, we get a snapshot: a majority of the US has collapsed, water is scarce, and what was once the American countryside is now overrun with Mad Max-style gangs that swarm vulnerable settlements, offering protection to peasants in exchange for loyalty. Issue #1 offers us a peek at The Ragers, a gang of particularly brutal gang members who decide to massacre a town they’ve recently agreed to protect.

Playwright turned comic scribe Sean Lewis offers little detail on *why* the Ragers have decided to murder their followers, but he offers plenty of hints, all of them tethered to the larger political mega-plot that The Few will undoubtedly delve into later on. But for now, Lewis focuses on the characters that will invariably need to shoulder his new maxiseries — a strategy that makes a lot of sense. After all, who cares about drama and revolution if you don’t love the characters living through it? Luckily, Lewis offers us a Edan Hale, a survivalist who flees the Ragers massacre while simultaneously saving an unknown infant who would have died without her help. Despite her best efforts, she only makes it so far, and it’s here that Lewis introduces the last pair of heroes, a father, and son who find Hale in the woods as she battles for her life.

While some readers might want more details, I loved this subtle character-driven approach. Especially since I have full faith that the nitty-gritty of how this new America operates will come into focus later on.

Hayden Sherman’s art, with its sparse lines, sketchy feel, and stark details, is gorgeous and helps make The Few feel perfectly desolate. He has a knack for large panels where all the focus is on the center of the page, a trick that makes sections of the book feel like they’re collapsing into your lap.

Overall, The Few offers an engaging start. And while it’s true that Lewis is offering readers villains, heroes, and situations that feel familiar for this genre, there’s a confidence in his narrative voice that suggests he’s about to take us on a new ride altogether.