IDW Publishing 2015
Created & Written by James Tynion IV
Created & Illustrated by Jeremy Rock
Coloured by Michael Spicer
Lettered by Troy Peteri
First Lady Amelia Greene’s monstrous visions have worsened, and in a recent sleepwalking episode, she injured herself while carving a strange seal into her desk. Her husband and other members of the White House are growing more and more concerned, but it seems some know more about these visions than they let on.
I am a big fan of this book, James and Jeremy have this incredibly good concept and their execution is flawless. That it centers around the White House and those who live there while dealing with creatures from a realm of Hell and with a kind of cult that thinks it will rule the world it’s quite different from a lot of offerings. Also I have to say that the way James is telling this is something you wouldn’t expect either, which naturally is a wonderful thing. I’m so into this but I really haven’t much of a clue as to what’s really happening. Okay so I have the basics down but really that we’ve so little real information is maddeningly interesting.
This issue we meet Christian’s daughter Clarissa and more about the people he’s in league with. Sure it’s been alluded to that he knows more about what’s going on with the First Lady and he did kind of threaten Brian or at least insinuate as much. So that we’re seeing more of this cabal, for lack of a better word, is great and that they are using Amelia to break the Eighth Seal for their own nefarious purposes, though I guess ruling the world or at least the United States isn’t really nefarious these days.
That we don’t know the hows or the why’s behind it all is half the fun for now. I’m sure as we approach the climax of the story we’ll learn more but for now it’s just as much fun to see it all unfold and be surprised by it. Then there’s the is this live, memorex or dreaming going on here that defies expectations and explanations. First run through of the story is the most dramatic, it’s shocking and horrific in ways that send shivers down the spine or least goosebumps down the arms.
When things should be coming into clearer focus the boys keep us guessing with what does this have to do with things. Is Amelia aware of what’s happening to her here or is it simply her going through the motions and trying to cope with what she cannot understand? What purpose does her mis-remembering the past have to do with the present unless it’s just to show her how futile resistance truly is. It’s just kind of creepy weird and fun in a don’t stay up late at night reading this kind of way.
This is a great example of how creators push themselves to stand out in a crowded field, or shall we say rack on the wall. The creativity on display here is wonderful. There really is some great characterization and story/plot advancement going on here.