Devil’s Due/First Comics 2016
Written by Jimmy Palmiotti & Justin Gray
Illustrated by John Timms
Coloured by David Curiel
Lettered by Bill Tortolini
If we erase our memories do we erase ourselves in the process? In a future when technology can implant or remove human memories and police use brain scan technology in criminal investigations, a mute girl must turn to an intellectually disabled handyman for protection after her parents are brutally murdered. On the run from an army of hitmen who will stop at nothing to kill them, it is revealed that the girl is carrying implanted memories that threaten to expose a conspiracy.
I don’t know about you but when I see Palmiotti and Gray attached to a project it’s pretty much a no-brainer it’s going to be read. C’mon these guys have mastered the art of storytelling together after all. So for me this just continues their streak shockingly unique and different characters they’ve managed to make interesting, fun and thoroughly entertaining.
I do like how this opens up as before you can settle in they start the action off in a most spectacular way. When young Yalena returns home with her parents we meet her and the handyman, Spencer it’s actually very nice to think that you know the folks in your building and more so on a friendly first name basis with the handyman. That however is where the niceties end.
I think this world is great as it doesn’t seem like one too far in the future, civilisation hasn’t fallen or anything only the technology is more advanced than we currently, knowingly, have. So we immediately understand the ramifications of what’s happening and the actions Yalena’s parents take. It’s really well written and while we have no real idea of what it is they stole the premise enlightens us just enough so we have a clue but still have that need to come back and see.
As our pair goes on the run from the bad guys we are introduced to the cops who’ll be handling this case. They seem both competent as well as shady so there’s a mystery on who they really work for as well as if ultimately are on the side of Yalena. It’s incredibly well done really it’s structured so that we get so much information while still leaving plenty of room for growth. The guys really do know how to create and write characters so that readers can get the utmost from them.
With some really nice interior artwork from John and David we get a really good look at how life here is. There’s a real nice unique style here and it’s not something we see everyday and I quite like it. John’s creates a nice flow from page to page through panels to really get us into the groove.
Another stellar first outing for this creative team. A futuristic story like we’ve never seen.