Aspen Comics 2017
Written by Blake Northcott
Penciled by Marco Renna
Inked by Mark Roslan
Coloured by John Starr
Lettered by Zen
Aspen Matthews discovered firsthand about the Typhos, a population of Blue that has only been written in legend, yet now have been unleashed on the surface for some unknown reason. However, a bigger problem may be the level of destruction Aspen and the Typhos reigned down on the city of San Diego during their battle—with the rest of the world watching..
In this new rebooted Aspen Universe Aspen is aware of her dual identity and travels between her world on land to the one with the Blue and has thus far been able to remain anonymous. Now thanks to the events of last issue that is coming to an end. Her Government boyfriend sent her to check something out and it ended up with the world knowing of her and the existence of the Blue, thanks to a great fight in San Diego. So what we’re seeing is more how the world is going to react to their presence for the first time and that we live in an age where social media, camera phones and the like are so extremely prevalent it’s going to be hard for her to have a normal life at all now.
The characterisation is nicely done here and I like that things are more innocent and yet still have that edge of mistrust and intrigue in it. The introduction of the Council and one member in particular showcase what Aspen is really facing here. The old saying, a part of both and at home in neither regarding children of mixed heritage is showing through nicely and the added stress that they put on themselves in that aspect is interesting to see.
I’m enjoying the interior artwork here as well. It’s got that classic Aspen look but it’s very much Marco’s aesthetic and that is great. The blend is wonderful to see and that he’s got his own style and eye for storytelling lets us enjoy his work as it is. The use of page layouts through their angles, perspective and use of backgrounds really help the reader get into the story. The use of imagination and creativity is nice to see and the way the coral is incorporated into the armour worn is nice to see.
For new readers and long time fans alike there really is a lot to really enjoy here. The new dynamic being presented, the fact that there’s some background to be explored as well as a bright open future brings back that promise which I felt when Fathom first debuted. It’s very rare for a book to recapture that feeling of hope and promise again but it’s happening here. I’m excited to see what’s going to happen next and get a chance to see this new world open up and explored.
Exciting, daring and a real treat to get to experience for the first time all over again.