Incendium/Space Goat Productions 2016
Written by Ian Edginton
Layouts by Gabriel Rearte
Penciled by Fabio Nahon
Inked by Carlos Eduardo & Alexandre Palomaro
Coloured by Iwan Joko & Felipe Felix
Lettered by Taylor Esposito
The fourth in a series of one shots that show off the characters and players in the Eternal Descent Universe is now available. I will say I find it interesting that in this depiction Loki is seen as one of the Seraphim considering all I know of Loki is solely from Norse lore. The trickster god angle certainly fits with this characterisation though Gabriel might have been better suited but that’s just me and my love of the old gods.
Ian does a great job in setting up the fact that Sirian and Loki are the opposite sides of the same coin. Equals and opposites it certainly makes for entertaining reading that’s for sure. From their initial encounter on the streets of San Francisco we see what Ian has intended to do with the pair. One content to be there and nudge humans when it may be necessary and one consumed with jealousy over these “creatures” and their supposed role with them wanting to rule and subjugate them. Immediately you know that this is the kind of rivalry that doesn’t go away.
With the characterisation of Loki in his cell what it is we see that this issue is going to set up a major conflict with Loki as a formidable foe in the future. Perhaps the first big arc of a new story line that’s upcoming and it really establishes their feelings. He’s scary and rightfully so and his while his motivation and the consequences of his actions are solely on him he sees it as Sirian’s intervention as the reason why he was banished like he was. That kind of characterisation is important, strong and something we see all too often.
I do like the interiors here and the opening really caught my attention. The Panopticon is amazingly rendered and seeing Loki in his cage is striking. The use of page layouts through angles, perspective and backgrounds are extremely well utilised. There’s a nice blend of some traditional comic style mixed with some moments that have this extreme attention to detail.
While not quite like the other three one-shots this does a really nice job in setting up the feud between Loki and Sirian. There could have been more time spent focusing on what makes Loki tick and his experiences in how he came to think so little of humanity. It would’ve been nice to get that sole in-depth look at him but I will say this does a rather impressive job in setting up some major new conflict that will consume the characters.
With each of these one-shots that keep coming out it really does make me want to see another Eternal Descent series, limited or otherwise, hit the stands. Llexi has really created this wonderful world that combines heaven and hell within the world of music that begs for more attention!