American Gothic Press 2016
Written by Jeremy Robinson & Kane Gilmour
Illustrated by Jeff Zornow
Lettered by Marshall Dillon
OH my goodness I love stories like this! The crew of a research vessel at the Pacific Garbage Island encounters a storm and finds themselves on a seemingly deserted Island. This however is no normal island it’s more a modern take on “The Island of Doctor Moreau.” Guys i’ve discovered that these adaptations of Robinson’s novels have opened up a new source reading material for me and I can’t wait to find the novels they are based off of.
The opening here is spectacular! It’s 1942 and World War II is in full swing and we see a young man waking up in the most peculiar of circumstances. Have to say it’s one heck of an eye opener and it definitely piques the curiosity so that you’ll want to keep reading.
After that it’s the present and we start to get to know our current cast of characters. The crew of the research vessel the Magellan. This in itself is great because it’s nice to see that while these folks are doing research they are also prone to quick decision making which actions could put them in immediate danger and are still willing to do it.
Got to give a big shoutout to Jeff here too for what he’s bringing to this. His use of pages and panels that are full with backgrounds allow us to see things in the bigger picture and help with the mood and tone of what’s going on around them. I like that we kind of have to pay attention to his work to see things that at a glance you’d miss or just overlook until it’s entirely too in your face relevant. The entire flow of the books is fantastic and I really do like the use of perspective and angles that we get. Not to mention the animals we do get to see, one in the garbage, that really bring things into a nice perspective. As well as demonstrate why these folks are here in the first place. Then there’s the depiction of the Island and how when they travel it there’s all sorts of hidden dangers and that sense of something’s not right which allow us to really get that vibe needed for what lies ahead.
When a storm approaches and fast the crew of the Magellan find themselves without a ship that functions and the loss of some crew members. For details read the story you’ll get a nice understanding of what their current predicament truly is. Though this means they are at an Island that hasn’t been inhabited in quite some time, at least by nothing human. However Kam, computer expert and intern, is missing and Dr. Avril Joliet and Mark Hawkins, former Yellowstone Park Ranger and Native American are going to the island to find him.
From shades of Doctor Moreau to Jurassic Park this story has everything that one of those made for SyFy movies brings us only without the bad acting and cheap special effects. It really is something that will spark the imagination and get the adrenaline pumping as the story unfolds. With great characterization, plot and pacing of the story this will be one that people will talk about for some time to come.