Archaia/Boom Studios 2015
Created by Trevor Crafts, Matthew Daley & Bruce Boxleitner
Written by Matthew Daley
Illustrated by Carlos Magno
Coloured by Chris Blythe
Alright so last issue was pretty fascinating and when we left Sander had went to put on a Guard's outfit that they had gotten from that rally that was invaded. Now he has to become a Captain and infiltrate the upper echelon and bring it down around their knees. Sounds easy doesn’t it, but then again Sander starts off not even knowing who’s uniform he’s wearing and has to get back to the fray and join the remains of the fight if all this is going to work even slightly.
One mishap after another gets Sander aboard the ship. I have to admit the writing here is pretty solid. The set up for what we’ve seen so far of this world they live in, Lantern City, paints a very clear picture of inequality among it’s citizens and a very harsh police state in effect. The picture painted here is vivid and brought to life beautifully by Carlos and Chris making everything work together in ways that fuel the imagination.
The way the story unfolds here is interesting in the fact that with his wife and brother knowing what he’s doing he soon saves and alerts his niece as to whom he is leaving a larger contingent of people who know his secret that I would’ve thought safe. Still it’s nice to see so that they know where he is and if they can do something to assist him in this endeavor he has allies on the outside to look out for him. The progression is something I wouldn’t have thought of doing and it’s very nicely done.
I love Carlos and Chris’ vision of the city and the work we see like on page ten for instance is simply breathtakingly gorgeous. So full of detail and colour it really manages to take the breath away and almost makes you long to see such a sight in person. Throughout the entire issue the attention to detail no matter how small, like rivets on the floor or walls, makes this the kind of book that almost be told as effectively without words at all.
With Sander on board and under the guise of Captain Orlin things get even more strange and bizarre as he tries to figure out what to do. In order not to be caught without the tattoo that represents his ID number he causes a scuffle which brings him to the Doctor who seems to know exactly who his is or rather isn’t and is mistaken for something else but gives us as readers the hope that perhaps he does have an ally where he is. Though very quickly we also see that he’s under suspicion as well for what has gone down that day.
Sootoh Belm, who has the nose of a pig, is a man you don’t want looking at you too closely but as luck would have it he’s investigating the irregularities of what has happened including the hour he missing at the Cathedral and his actions here. This causes Sander to become incredibly nervous and perhaps it’s true that Belm knows he isn’t who he claims to be but for now it's all circumstantial. Though the last page clearly tells the tale and what happens next issue will be something to see.
This is a fantastic world and story unfolding before us.