Aspen Comics 2015
Written by Vince Hernandez
Illustrated by Giuseppe Cafaro
Coloured by Wes Hartman
Kiani and Anika offered peace with the U.S. Navy aboard the U.S.S. Arkansas by sparing the crew’s lives in order to buy more time before their next move. However, Admiral Hoover set in motion his more dangerous plan of attack--a captured terrorist turned experimental creature fused with the Grey Matter that is poisonous to the Blue. Yet, before the hybrid prisoner was able to kill them, the pair was rescued by a mysterious new ally…
Oh I am totally digging this story as we see Kiani and Anika having just barely survived their encounter with a new threat to be saved by Shalla. Shalla is of the Blue and he has intimate knowledge of Admiral Hoover and what he’s doing. If you believe his story he was a prisoner of Hoover’s and is now working both sides against each other so that in the end he may align himself with whomever is victorious ensuring his survival. Meanwhile the President of the United States learns on what Hoover has been up to and it’s decided he should take no action and let the girls deal with him instead.
Why is fear followed by control of things that aren’t the “norm” the reactions of people who are supposed to be in power protecting us? Instead of using a level head and working with different species they will annihilate them and propagate their technology instead it’s one of those things that we see all over the world right now, kill anyone who we perceive as different. Anyway back to our regularly scheduled program.
Kiani is no one’s fool regardless what they might think and I love seeing her character showcase brains and what’s she learned in her time dealing with people in general be they human or Blue. She really has gotten more level headed and trust her instincts more and the writing and the characterization really are excellent plus seeing Anika act like a much younger version of her sister, way back when she was introduced really puts all that into perspective.
Admiral Hoover has a trick up his sleeve, he’s a sneaky ass bastard so of course he does but what he doesn’t realize is that the President will declare a rogue operative and leave him out to dry on his own so regardless of whatever he has planned for the girls it’s going to be interesting to see if it turns out to be a no-win situation. I have to be slightly honest i’m getting tired of his over the top egotistical Napoleon complex it’s getting a tad tired to see and hear so if you like me think that read this issue and rejoice in what could be his undoing.
Now Shalla on the other hand I am looking forward to seeing more of. He will honest up to a point and he’ll tell you what you want to hear if it’s in his best interest but for some reason he’s an honest scuzzball and that I appreciate so hopefully he and Kiani can work together over time.
Giuseppe and Wes do some great work on the interiors. It’s very true to the Turner style of art. I wouldn’t mind seeing Giuseppe kind of find his own work within it and flourish but it’s very beautifully stylized and the colours do pop though Kiani’s hair looks too streaky with highlights and the bad kind you get from an amateur colourist. Still they do this world such justice and it’s just delightful to see.
Kiani has become far more interesting, fascinating and more of a joy to read over the years. This is why we keep coming back it just keeps getting better.