Devil’s Due Entertainment 2015
Written by Ash Maczko
Illustrated & Lettered by Ashley Witter
Again we open in rural Illinois before the events that led to the animals being like they are. I love the homage we see to Jim McMahon playing for da Bears! I understand that the kids father has something to do with the army and there’s all kinds of upheaval happening and that his mom’s sick but honestly that we aren’t learning so much about what’s happened isn’t so upsetting to me. I like that Ash is taking his time and leaving us wondering because that’s what a good writer does, engages the reader’s own imagination.
After reading this issue it’s abundantly clear that this is only the beginning. There is still so much more about these characters lives to tell. What Ash and Ashley have done however is create a world that mimics our own in such spectacular ways that you can’t help but fall in love with what’s here. These animals banding together to make their own tribes with hierarchies and using different species working together is amazing well done. Plus if you haven’t seen it yet Ashley is an amazingly talented artist and the work we see here is beyond compare.
After the shocking events of last issue it seems things are a lot more complicated than I had originally thought. Also while everyone was thinking and pointing fingers at Eli being a traitor they hadn’t thought that perhaps there were others among them that were an even greater danger to the Tin Kin way of life!
There’s a great flashback to King’s father leaving to confront Redcoat about his wife and daughter while leaving his son behind. It’s powerful for what it shows and for what it implicates and not all is what it seems either. While Brand is a proud husband and father to his children with his wife there’s more here than meets the eye. Aside from the ruthless animalistic behaviors that mimic any kind of warfare we currently see, particularly in the Middle East these days, there’s some incredible characterization going on as well.
That goes a long way to showing us why King is the way he is. Also those around him that follow him and particularly Eli. While explanations are in short order from some for their reasons others are revealed here nicely and in some ways that will leaving you wide eyed in astonishment. I could not have been any more surprised, pleased and thrilled by the fourth installment of this story. More than ever I want to keep learning and reading about these characters, this world they find themselves in and how it all got this way.
I was honoured to learn how Ashley’s art process for this book was done this weekend and that she starts with using pencils before getting it to the computer for digital work makes what she does here even more impressive. She’s truly a rising talent in the industry and keep your eyes on these two because I think we should come to expect great things from them.
If you haven’t read this but are intrigued, and you should be, then the collected edition will be out in October so order one from your local shoppe or subscription service today or you could to do Devil’s Due website. From start to finish, writing and illustration this get highest marks possible 10 out 10 it really does hit every note with precision and perfection.