Image Comics 2016
Written by Ed Brubaker
Illustrated by Sean Phillips
Coloured by Elizabeth Breitweiser
I really like the way this story is told. The almost book format used to open the issue is a great way to tell the story on one side with the visuals on the other. It’s also a chance for both Sean and Elizabeth to shine since the work doesn’t have word coverage and it’s just these great panels that showcase what goes along with what he’s thinking while doing something.
I’m also a fan of starting where we did and then going back to see how we got there. Ed does a great job in telling this in a way that keeps the reader engrossed. While we don’t get to see this force that is well forcing him to kill and he’s totally on a deadline or he himself is supposed to die finding that person who’s considered bad enough that’s the real challenge.
I’m totally into what Sean is doing with the interiors. What he lays down here and what Elizabeth does with them well it’s remarkable. You almost feel the cold from that winter’s day here. The attention to detail here is amazing the use of backgrounds are stunning. How the use of angles and perspective are utilized make such an impact here so overall you just can’t take your eyes off the page. Dylan goes from goofy to handsome and scary in this issue and that use of the facial expressions are such a joy to see.
His old friend, dating his roommate, and that she’s around and his feelings for her going through changes well it’s all just adding this additional drama to the story. It’s also kind of a nice distraction as well to what he’s dealing with otherwise. I found his thought process after leaving the house after his supposed mugging to be nicely done.
Finding himself a gun is a priority and one that’s not in the system. I like how he consults his dealer about going about getting one. It’s a great moment too it made me chuckle and it also made me think damn this dude has all that in the van. Still this leads Dylan home where he knows his father kept a gun. The perfect way to obtain one without having break into a home and hope to steal one that can’t be traced to him.
Now the memories that come back to him there when he’s rifling through his father’s old boxes of art. Yeah that’s kind of disturbing and a sensitive subject. His little friend Teddy’s brother what he did well if it was done to him and the cycle was repeated that’s one thing if he did it on his own without thinking then yeah he’s the one. Ouch such an emotional thing to bring to comics though the effects that had on Teddy are pretty nicely described and you can actually understand Dylan’s thought process here. Though i’m sad that when he was old enough to figure things out he didn’t reach out to Teddy.
Powerful in ways you won’t ever expect thanks to its subject matter and much deeper than I was prepared for. How he’s going to keep this up is beyond me but let’s hope that all the people he’s met or had friendships with in the past aren’t going to be the main focus or the damage to his psyche is going to be immeasurable.
Damn this hits you in the feels all around.