Valiant Entertainment 2017
Written by Matt Kindt
Illustrated by CAFU & Roberto De La Torre
Coloured by Andrew Dalhouse
Lettered by Dave Sharpe
Journeying to the Deadside is always a difficult experience, but these days it’s even more dangerous than usual. Tama the Geomancer, Ninjak, Punk Mambo, and Rex the Razer are racing against the clock to stop the evil being, Babel, from piercing the heavens and reaching the Liveside, an act that would unleash chaos on earth. On top of everything, one of the team’s strongest assets, Magpie, has been captured by the enemy. Now Babel is offering to free the former Shadowman from the ancient Loa that has been both a blessing and a curse upon the Boniface family for generations…
First of all Matt’s journey throughout the Valiant Universe continues to reach new heights with this story. Also a special shoutout needs to go to Dave for his work lettering this one with Babel’s speech pattern the way it is. While it feels like one of those “if you can read this…” kind of things it really does stress the point that he’s completely off his rocker.
Shadowman, Jack, should’ve been playing closer attention to what Babel was saying and I guess in the end only one thing really mattered to him and it does feel like a very good case of “be careful what you wish for.” For as Babel tells him his story I cannot believe he was as unconcerned with how interchangeably Babel would use the terms working for and slave in regard to the Loa. That was the first clue as the type of man he is and should’ve rang every alarm bell possible. Still being in the Deadside and having through what he has he’s not completely in his right mind.
Wow is the interior artwork here really rather enticing. I am rather enjoying the way style with which this is being brought to life. The linework and how we see the Loa and all the colours here blend to make this kind of ethereal and yet oddly mesmerising so that we don’t want to look away. The use of page layouts through the angles and perspective are utilised extremely well. The whole ebb and flow of the work through light and dark really does this number on the senses as the story unfolds.
Rex is a great addition to this team as they foray into the Tower to stop Babel and rescue Jack. Also that Ninjak is the one who keeps going into the Deadside and is the least mystical character and believer ever continues to make how he sees all this amazing. Plus that we see Punk Mambo and the Geomancer so it’s a total win win for me. That Matt gets to use these characters and put them in a place so notorious and let us see them at their best and worst all at the same time couldn’t be any more fun. Yes I said worst it’s the Deadside a place where second guessing and doubt creep into everything whether it’s noticeable or not it happens and changes how the characters react and behave.
Valiant continues to push the boundaries in their universe by constantly seeming to give their creators the room to let the characters dictate the story. It’s old school where the team is there to tell the journey the characters take not like they are the ones scripting the adventures if you can understand what i’m trying to say.