Boom Studios 2015
Written by Alex Paknadel
Illustrated by Eric Scott Pfeiffer
A mental connection was established between Lee Garner and Lee Pepper, leading to Lee Pepper’s imprisonment for treason against Arcadia. The Homesteaders need Giacomo to find the flaw in Arcadia responsible for the death of one of their own, so they have spirited Coral and the boy to safety; however, Giacomo has agreed to help only if his parents are rescued.
Wow Alex is moving things along a really nice pace here. The conversation that Pepper has with Valentin and the realization that two people inside Arcadia have gone missing, as in ceased to be, and one of them is Valentin’s fault well it seems that they are putting the clues together on the outside to what’s happening inside Arcadia the only real question is can they do their thing in Alaska before whatever Pepper’s counterpart inside can help it’s downfall.
Meanwhile inside Arcadia we see Lee talking to an old asset on Fisk’s behalf, well that’s making it sound like he has a choice but that’s semantics. Corey is kind of messed up in the head but he’s the only one who has the root password for Arcadia, he designed it after all but the true purpose of why is as of yet still unknown though through his ramblings we’re given plenty of clues making what’s happening here seem much more interesting.
Just how powerful is the one who controls Arcadia? I mean it’s an interesting concept and to be honest if all the people in Arcadia have no earthly bodies how do they seriously have so much power in the physical world? Why was Arcadia even created in the first place it’s almost as if someone knew that something was coming and created a place for people to continue to grow and evolve and think to create weapons and such so that those who in the real world who controlled it would have this huge advantage.
With some residents of Arcadia able to manifest more control over their surroundings like natural born hackers trying to disrupt the status quo and make life inside more equal for all residents it seems that a huge confrontation is about to happen. Of course with Coral and her brother in this mix, and Giacomo being an anomaly created as a child in Arcadia everything thing seems to be on this crash course for disaster. It’s kind of like watching traffic that’s out of control and anticipating that huge wreck that’s going to happen.
The tension and intrigue Alex manages to deliver here alongside this whole way he makes the reader look into the story so much deeper than what we see makes this really one of those rare entities that envelopes you into what we see and then keeps you riveted to the page and coming back for each new issue to see just how it all unfolds and if you what you suspect and need to know about Arcadia is true.
Eric’s interiors are incredibly intense. They do run the gamut from this real world realness to this otherworldly technological standpoint where reality is more fluid than a babbling brook. The colouring in scenes that really showcase the area and the mood are done so well that you just have to sit back and marvel at his skill.
There is so much incredible talent on display here and it makes for one of the most unique and interesting offerings on stands today.