IDW Publishing 2017
Written by Luciano Saracino
Illustrated by Ariel Olivetti
Lettered by Shawn Lee
Translated & Edited by Carlos Guzman
In the future, glistening buildings line the city's skyline. In the future, rich and powerful men wish to exploit power they don't fully comprehend. In the future, a new warrior emerges… a shapeshifter that will help the people rise against the forces of oppression!
Thrilled, disappointed, happy and sad all at the same time because well A. we get stories in this world and B. well it isn’t the past. Don’t get me wrong I fully appreciate what this issue is all about and yes it makes sense and yes its utterly amazing I just kind of hoped we’d be revisiting the past and watching the evolution of Ich as the centuries passed and the Masks found their successors, also getting to see that demon keep up and follow Ich as well yeah that was all those unanswered questions from the end of the last arc.
This arc takes place now I mean you could argue it’s the future, and it is from the past arc’s point of view, and we are thrust right into the middle of things. We open with a big blue ape like creature, gotta say Ariel i’m surprised we didn’t get to see that big blue wee wee flapping around, King Kong style fighting off some military drones. No explanation no nothing just threw us into the deep end and said catch up! Not hating that either it’s a brilliant way to grab attention and start things off. For those who read the last arc it’s kind of homecoming and for new readers well it’s dynamite, eye catching and screams what the hell is going on!?!
Luciano once again has impressed the hell out of me with this story. I mean his introduction for me last time around really made me excited for this and he sure as heck doesn’t let you down! The story structure is brilliant and the way we learn what’s happening here just keeps amping up the imagination and intrigue factors tenfold. At least we know that the main players are back and this is something that has been going on steadily since that first arc so while we may not know the details that doesn’t mean that past encounters won’t get their own arcs at some point in time.
Ariel again proves just how damn amazing and talented an artist he is with this. The attention to detail, the way the musculature looks, feels and ripples with movement throughout the pages is stunning! The believability of the creature and the people we see here just continue to showcase the way all comic book art should be. His use of page layouts through angles, perspective and the use of backgrounds is just so amazing to see. The difference in the way the pages look in your hand compared to digitally reinforces my desire for hand held comics.
Oh by the way Georgie and Margaret steal the show this issue. That was just pure and utter brilliant genius on everyone’s part! The dialogue, the reaction and just their overall look yeah that for me was the highlight and considering what else we see well yeah that’s saying something.
My god this is what comics should be about it’s pure storytelling that engages the reader through their mind, imagination and thrills at the possibilities of what is and can be.