IDW Publishing 2017
Written by Mike Carey & Arvind Ethan David
Illustrated by Livio Ramondelli
Lettered by Robbie Robbins
When the demons cam e, humanity reluctantly learned to share the world with another sentient race. Eighty years later, this uneasy co-existence has spawned an endless terrorist conflict. Detective Daniel Aston, charged with being the thin blue line between the two sides, was killed while stopping a terrorist attack. But awoke to find a demon had set up house inside his soul…..
Ya know I have to say that the opening here is one that’s for the books. I do like when things we think of as familiar, by that I mean what we know to be true, and are twisted so that it becomes something else. In this instance the Prime Minister of England uses the word Demons and is corrected as they are the Shaitan Anazge, the hundred tribes. It’s amazing that something so small could have such a major impact on what we’re reading here. It’s that one thing that takes them from demonic soul possessing things in need of exorcism to a sentient race of beings that need hosts if they are to survive. So yes parasitic at best I suppose but still one phrase and suddenly the black and white are gone into all these shades of gray.
By the by the whole way Lady Vivian and Prime Minister Churchill conduct their business well it’s deliciously wicked. I mean seriously the war with Germany is ongoing and the means to stop it comes from a source one would never normally consider. The price is steep and yet the outcome inevitable? Should the Prime Minister decline this very kind and generous offer from Lady Vivian then she’d feel it her duty to see the German leader and ascertain his interest in the same offer. Which of course we all know that Hitler loving the occult as did would have had no problems saying yes. Or would he? He wanted the world to be his not something he had to share personally I’d be very interested in seeing what he would’ve said in this case. Again something to think about.
While I kind of miss seeing what Daniel and his daughter are up to this look back at that point in history when the Shaitan Anazge used their words to secure a foothold on Earth is the stuff that legends are borne from. Seriously this is the kind of writing that not only sets you apart from the crowd but makes you an odds on frontrunner in winning the race. There’s a dance that we see happening here between two political figures as options are weighed against one another to determine what’s best long-term for their people. To be able to witness this first hand and have it done so that all the nuances and subtlety are there for us to see shows a brilliance in candor the likes you’ll not see again.
The interior artwork here is simply gorgeous. There’s his blend of what appears to be computer generated and hand drawn artwork. So whatever program was used it was used extremely well. The attention to detail is beautiful to see as are the page layouts with their angles, perspective and utilization of backgrounds. The creativity and imagination on display here is fun and interesting to see and when the Shaitan are realized well it’s stunning stuff.
This takes the world of demons, the war and a look at how we share this globe with those who have different viewpoints and ways of existing and thrusts them front and center. Can we all get along or are fundamental differences just too important to let go so we can all live and let live?