Titan Comics 2016
Written by Alex Irvine
Illustrated by John Aggs
Coloured by Marco Lesko
Lettered by Rob Steen
As riots begin to ignite across the continent, Titus King further fans the flames of hostility by taking his hate speech into the heart of the Glasshutte. Meanwhile, Jensen undertakes a covert operation to discover the demagogue's connection to the terrorist cell and the real reason behind his anti-aug affront.
Last issue someone took the girl Jensen was transporting and it was very much with inside help. Alex picks up there this issue. I have to say I like the way he’s writing this story and how he’s got a nice flow going on. So this was interesting for a couple different reasons and the result when Jensen’s told to go home and the rest of the team isn’t well you know something’s up you just don’t know what. I like the intrigue in this as Jensen’s only ruled out one person who he thinks isn’t involved in being a mole.
I do like with the help of inner voice, we do get to see a lot of her this issue, it’s decided maybe just maybe it’s time for Jensen to take a closer look at King. So while King is spewing his hatred in Dresden it’s time for a little snooping. First let’s talk about King for a moment shall we. You can substitute his hatred of Aug’s for any group whatsoever and it’s easy to see that in society today. Be it Muslim’s, Immigrants, Jews, Homosexuals anything the “Right Wing” thinks is a threat to their way of life really. I think the excuse to hate unabashedly as it’s shown here presents dangers that escalate to points where violence is all but certain. Heck even the Presidential race going on right is inline with I see being presented here.
This kind of characterization and what’s happening in the world today influencing stories isn’t new but seeing in this form as Alex is doing makes it hard to ignore for me. So not only do I think this is a spectacularly written story it also mirrors the sign of the times all too accurately.
So while we aren’t closer to learning who the mole inside TF29 we do get to learn plenty of interesting things here. The world’s greatest detective would be angry with me for not seeing the evidence laid out before us but then the way Alex has been going i’ll go easy on myself. It does make a lot of sense and once you realize it things start to fall into place more. Just another reason to be impressed folks. Forget that this is based off a video game and comes before one version, Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, and just revel in the fact that this world is infinity captivating and full of potential.
There’s something about the artists Titan finds, or maybe it’s the inking, but I do like the way the work comes across on the pages. Plenty of line break-ups and fluidity in them so they aren’t rigid, flexible makes for more realistic movement. John has a nice eye for storytelling and when to use backgrounds and when not to. He infuses individuality into his characters and even if they aren’t front and center you still “get” them. I like that this doesn’t appear as computer generated as a video game would and his style just seems to add that human touch a story like this needs.
Who says Video Games don’t educate? I mean seriously just look at what you can do with a franchise like Deus Ex!