IDW Publishing 2015
Written by Mark Waid
Illustrated by Barry Kitson
Coloured by Chris Sotomayor
A REBEL ATTACK ON GOLGOTH’S CITADEL HAS BEEN THWARTED BY LORD GOLGOTH HIMSELF, BUT HIS INDECISION AFTER THE FAILED INSURRECTION HAS LEFT HIS MINISTERS QUESTIONING HIS SUPERIORITY.
We open on New Angola where we see a worker erasing graphitti off a poster of the Golgoth and the dialogue here is interesting. The officers listening to him are like shut up you don’t know whose listening just be quiet, they might agree with what he’s saying but it’s dangerous to let anyone know. Really this a great opening and we already knew not al was well in this forced utopia it’s nice to see it this way with everyday ordinary people. That is until Xanna arrives on scene.
Golgoth is bored he has no opposition and everyone seems to cower to him so a man like that who needs action who needs that arch nemesis otherwise you can tell from Mark’s writing and Barry’s visuals he’s bored. He’s looking for that next big threat, relishing the idea behind it and hoping that this time whomever it is can make a good showing of it. He can flex his muscle and put down the rebellion reaffirming his status but he needs something otherwise his lack of care for day to day will be his undoing.
Lucullan there’s something here that makes you wonder. He’s Goloth’s right hand man and yet he’s not too trusting either and goes about to make sure he’s cued in to what Xanna’s doing twice an hour. Meanwhile Valpurgis looking more like something out Brother Blood’s church goes in to soothe Golgoth’s soul. Now this conversation is one to keep an eye on because what happens when you are trying to appease a villain of his caliber and calling him your new god supplanting all others well this old man is on a slippery slope and Mark’s dialogue here wow this why we flock to whatever he writes because it’s just darn good.
There’s some progressive stuff happening here, and honestly Barry’s work has never looked better his unique signature style is strong and emotional and the characters movements come across as fluid all creating a pleasurable reading experience. Seeing Xanna’s little adventure she was sent on and through not only her eyes but those back at base keeping an eye on her was somewhat telling. Not only is she a pretty powerful member of the team but she was sent into something that she wasn’t briefed or prepared for. That alone raises more questions all around and adds to the drama and what I already think of Golgoth.
A little at a time things are being revealed that make this book more intriguing and full of the right kind of interpersonal drama. Oh and that two women seem to be having a relationship and it’s nonchalantly shown also says a lot about how far society has come that no big deal has to be made of it and Mark writes it just as naturally as anything else.
If you never read the original run get a copy of the trade, you don’t need to have read to enjoy this but do it anyway. This story is like two friends stepping back into parts that they were meant to play and don’t miss a beat when it comes to getting back in synch. This is a fabulous read people i’m so happy it’s here.