Archaia/Boom Studios 2015
Created by Trevor Crafts, Matthew Daley & Bruce Boxleitner
Written by Matthew Daley & Mairghread Scott
Illustrated by Carlos Magno
Coloured by Chris Blythe
Lettered by Deron Bennett
I’ve been enamoured with this series since day one and I’ve loved how it’s progressed and grown. We’ve seen Sander kind of drift away from his wife and son in ways that are and aren’t shocking. His rise to trusted confidant and savior has been remarkable to see. Then aside from this incredible writing, story and character development we’ve seen Carlos and Chris do some of the most brilliant work in comics period. The attention to detail is astonishing, this issue just look at that black and white checkerboard floor and tell you aren’t impressed!
Alright so this issue we see that Sander is getting back to finding his family. He’s got the help and assistance of Killian here. By the way there was alarm bells going off in my head as we see this conversation unfold. It’s like suddenly Killian gave off this really creepy I shouldn’t be trusted vibe and it was almost uncomfortable. So you two yeah that’s some mighty fine writing you’ve done here!
The characterization still amazes me and I should be used to it by now but there’s are so many moments that catch me by surprise and him going off to the lower levels and trying to distance himself from Terna and Jom like that did. It’s like suddenly he found himself getting too comfy in his new life and role that he thought being rude, standoffish and an ass basically was the right way to go. Though c’mon they’ve been through too much already for that to really work.
Alright so as Sander seeks out Karla and his son in disguise you’d think Killian would know better than wear that mask. Nice to see keeping an eye out on him though I guess he really is loyal to Sander but it’s still creepy. Almost as creepy as what unfolds before us down there with Pont’s followers. This can be see two ways though, one is a role forced to play in order to survive and one that is abhorrent but necessary to break ones will. The other is what it seems to eye. However knowing what we do I think the wrong conclusion was reached here after all which Pont loyalist is a traitor to Sander that make sure this scene would play out in front of him. Oh Crap seriously did I just now see this!
I’m almost disappointed in this whole Earth revelation nonsense. Granted I wouldn’t mind it if were just another dimension or parallel world but Earth meh. Still I am very much enjoying a few aspects of that and chief among them is that Killian believes in it and is crazy enough to use his resources and talents to try to make the voyage possible. Though if he can then he’s crazy smart and not just seemingly crazy.
This series just keeps moving right along and it never really goes in a direction I think it’s going to. It’s constantly surprising me and keeping me guessing, like why Killian really doesn’t want to get married, and i’m usually wrong. That’s why I love coming back, well that and this is a book that just exceeds any kind of expectation you can muster. What with Carlos mad art skills bringing this to life and the writing wow I mean seriously.
Kind of steampunk, kind of science fiction, kind of the struggle for survival doing whatever it takes and all that, this mixes so many different things and like a mixologist they shake it up to create something delicious.