Aftershock Comics 2016
Created & Written by Marguerite Bennett
Illustrated by Rafael De Latorre
Coloured by Rob Schwager
Lettered by Marshall Dillon
At first I thought these opening flashbacks were just a great way to see how Jesse and Sandor became to be as close as they are. Now with what Marguerite does with this issue i’m beginning to wonder if there’s more meaning behind them. Yes we see how Sandor bonds with Jesse and his feelings for her stem from this place but then what of her parents?
I have to say this as well when we get to where Mimico is telling his army to kill the humans I surely hadn’t expected anything to play out like it had. I love Marguerite and that she’s able to tell us stories like this. Her mind has some weird wiring going on and i’m totally thankful for that because this is much more interesting than I thought it would be. I love that Pearl is back and looking the worse for ware but that the army isn’t following his orders well that’s something that should have been expected but wasn’t.
I do like that regardless of whether they are human or animal it seems that leaders are leaders and seem to be prone to having some sort of complex that leads to dissent or revolt among their “people.” As the truth of the matter comes to hand we suddenly see that perhaps it isn’t intelligence that sets us all apart it’s what we do with it that does. I mean packs have a hierarchy that is strictly adhered to and yes there are challenges to rule but it has more of a one on one effect instead of the way humans rule. So instinct or intellect which one is more to blame for how we run society?
Rafael has won my heart over with the work he’s been doing here. The use of page layouts through angles, perspective and some backgrounds he visually enhances the story in such a great way. The look and feel of the characters is marvelous, that Koala for instance yeah i’m all about him and those earrings. Actually that he can infuse so much emotion into these animals to make them seem and feel more human while retaining their animal nature well it’s a stellar feat he should be most proud of.
The way this story progresses is amazing to me. I love the questions asked that give me as a reader pause. I mean c’mon we’ve been thinking of it but haven’t voiced it yet but seriously when will we learn exactly what happened to Jesse’s parents? How they Sandor and Jesse get away from the madness that is going on around them well that’s wonderfully done. I had thought they’d made friends here and perhaps they’ve got a few long lasting connections perhaps not time will tell. The mix of humans and animals here have such a weird dichotomy that you just never know what is going to happen.
With the Armies having squared off and Sandor and Jesse knowing they belong to neither tribe as it were means they have to go on the move again. So where they will go and what further adventures await remain to be seen but with this kind of writing, characterisation and exploration i’m on board for where Marguerite is going to take us.