Image Comics 2015
Written by Kel Symons
Illustrated by Nate Stockman
Coloured by Paul Little
Without a doubt this has become my biggest sleeper hit of the year! Now that we’re firmly entrenched in what has become a science fiction adventure, from a sword and sorcery start, with the main characters having to scramble to keep up with the ever changing view of their world and existence Kel has managed to really go above and beyond anything we’ve seen before and I doubt will see again anytime soon.
I cannot stress enough how much I’m enjoying this series. From just losing one of their own out the ship’s hull and then seeing the automated maintenance system come online and seal the breach to Reyn using the girl only he can see to get them to place where they can circumvent the Venn, whose mission on board the vessel seems to be coming into more focus here, to suddenly feeling like you’re looking at a scene straight out of Alien it couldn’t have been done any better. Plus I adore how three of them look at Reyn getting into a space suit and discussing him while wearing nothing but his underwear. Seph’s friends one female on male yeah that’s what happens today.
That interchange goes to show how much things have changed in comics when you see a man openly ogling another man and wishing he looked at him as he looks at Seph well yeah it’s just done, no fanfare no controversy nothing like that it’s just a natural exchange between friends talking about how she jump on that ya know normal friend talk and seeing that nowadays when I can clearly remember growing up and this kind of thing never would have happened outside an “underground” comic just makes me happy to see how far we’ve come in accepting each othe for who we are not what.
Getting to a room full of space suits and Aurora leading them through Reyn to go for a walk on the outside of the vessel yeah it’s pretty dynamic stuff. Honestly even though it seems like some things shouldn’t happen it makes complete sense that it goes this way as if it were unavoidable and that even though these people are so less technologically savvy they don’t hesitate proving that the need for survival conquers all.
On the verge of re-entering the ship where the Venn won’t be expecting them we see that the Venn are more well equipped than we could have imagined. The fact that Kel can keep things here so fresh, new and exciting and utterly surprising makes him one of today’s most exciting writers and one to definitely keep your eye on because you simply CANNOT get writing like this anywhere else.
I don’t know Nate personally but i’m in love with him and what he can do. From the opening page to the last one he manages to bring this story to life so incredibly well. I mean he’s gone from this world that’s rising again similarly to the old west, time looping society, to this science fiction action thriller using an alien salamander race in the Venn and demonstrating that regardless of what Kel can throw his way he’s more than up for the challenge. Plus I am a huge fan of his depiction of this motley group of survivors, each one has this unique look and body type to them enhancing their individuality and keeping them interesting.
I urge all of you to get these issues or order the first trade from you local shoppe or online distribution store because seriously this isn’t like anything you’ve seen before and it will thrill and amaze you.