Boom! Studios 2016
Created, Written & Illustrated by Frank Cho
Coloured by Marcio Menyz
Lettered by Ed Dukeshire
Lazarus, after his miraculous resurrection, fathered three children: Abraham Skybourne, Thomas Skybourne and Grace Skybourne. All three children were blessed with superhuman strength, impenetrable skin and immortality. This is their story.
Well this was a complete and pleasant surprise for me. Last issue hooked me with Grace doing her thing and getting killed by the end of the issue and the fact that she’s supposed to be immortal with impenetrable skin and there’s a weapon out there with the magical qualities to end her life was great. It made me want to know more about what was going on here. This time around we get to focus on her brother Thomas, he was one who opened last issue by falling out of a plane trying to kill himself.
Frank really goes that extra mile with the characterisation and fleshing out the world and his story this issue. As he opens this issue with a Cardinal entering a Chinese Monastery where he’s visiting Thomas and giving him the news of his sister. At first I have to say that I really was taken by the dialogue between the two then Frank makes it quite clear that these two are old friends and that banter was friendly which made it all the better. It’s really like the kind of talk you have between someone close to you and gives this a more personal honest touch for me. Yes there’s underlying between them but it’s nice to see this kind of banter.
Also gotta give a huge shoutout here for his not only writing this as well as he does but his interiors are just as magnificent. The work on these faces alone are amazingly expressive, soft and emotional they grab you and those eyes just kind of see you. His eye for storytelling has always been amazing and here it seems he just found that extra level through angles, perspective and attention to detail that take them to a whole new level.
I like the description of the Vatican and its role in the Archives and how that’s changed over the twenty nine years Thomas has been in exile. Self imposed just so you know. Also the state of the world they live in where oracles, seers, and the extrasensory community exists and are used by all parties. So this world is one where the siblings may be different but they aren’t anomalies and I found that interesting.
The more we learn about this world the more fascinating it becomes. Sure we have no idea who that was who killed Grace. Don’t know what he wants or what he’s about but i’m good with that. Keep it a mystery let us find out alongside Thomas. This keeps that interest factor up and the desire to keep returning to find out.
With all the revelation about this world this issue i’m more invested and interested in knowing what’s going on than ever before. Thomas and his story keeps our curiosity piqued and the introduction of his sister’s boss well that’s for you to decide on but he does add a certain something to the book.
This is an intriguing premise with excellent execution. If it keeps this trajectory than Frank’s gonna blow my mind with this one.