Top Cow Productions/Image Comics 2016
Written by Zack Kaplan
Illustrated by Giovanni Timpano
Coloured by Betsy Gonia
Colour Assists by Chris Northrop
Lettered by Troy Peteri
It’s funny because it seems come in waves and maybe it’s not consciously done but somehow the universe works that way. In Eclipse a Solar Flare has destroyed Earth’s atmosphere making it impossible to be outside in daylight. Science Fiction, post apocalyptic storytelling without zombies or monsters. To be fair Top Cow has been doing these stories regularly for years and they find the talent to do it extremely well. This is no exception either because the storytelling here is phenomenal.
I’m very impressed on what Zack is doing here. Aside from creating a world where people live underground and come to the surface at night for fresh air he’s also woven in a mystery and something of a hero story. There’s also the people running the city who have their own agenda so there’s actually quite a bit going on here but nothing that doesn’t seem like it’s too much. His story progression is extremely good and the way he presents everything really captures the reader’s attention and increases the interest factor.
Giovanni shines brightly in this issue. The attention to detail the sheer volume of work on each page and in each panel just paints the picture of this world beautifully. From the overcrowding to the desolation to the science fiction aspects of these suits needed to be worn during outside daylight hours it’s just breathtaking. Now if we could’ve seen Bax in the shower just a little longer, see full body, I could’ve been ecstatic. Seriously though the way he renders people here is superb as is his ability to use angles and perspective for the flow of this book.
Bax is an enigma, a loner and well trusted by those in charge. He was something of a hero, considered by others not himself, when the Flare hit. There’s so much potential with him that’s unspoken that it makes him infinitely fascinating. The way the story unfolds and the people we’re introduced to are fleshed out nicely with personality in a short time but the mystery of who Bax is remains a huge draw.
There’s also a full blown mystery of another sort here. Brandt, of the company, knows Bax and trusts him and wants his help. Why that is you’ll have to read the story to find out but it’s good, and I mean story wise and visually. So this loner who goes about his business and wants to be left alone is now embroiled in something much larger than he’d like and it’s going to push him to the limits not only to survive but now to figure out what’s happening and why.
This takes the best of the Post Apocalyptic scenario and fuses it with something in those Outer Space Horror stories to create something new, unique and incredibly entertaining.