Image Comics 2016
Written by Jason Aaron
Illustrated by r.m. Guera
Coloured by Giulia Brusco
Lettered & Designed by Jared K. Fletcher
With each issue I read it seems that Jason keeps adding a new layer to things. This issue the characterization is great as we see Cain start to change. We officially meet Noah and well let’s just say thankfully this isn’t the bible’s version. Though I do have to say that the way Guera makes him look like he’s from the middle east instead of being so well white is a delightful change of pace. Still we are really starting to go from foul mouthed blatant violence to a real story and i’m completely on board with the change.
There really is something crazy about Cain that’s kind of endearing. Okay so he created the original sin and he’s been cursed to walk the land ever since unable to die. That kind of stuff messes with your head and if it doesn’t well hell I dunno. I do know that this whole time Cain’s been looking for a way to die. Who would have thought that Noah wouldn’t allow it until he proved that Cain was the real deal?
Noah’s giant takes him out and then they leave him on cross for nine days! This is Noah the man building an Ark to save humanity because everyone’s gone downhill and is like Cain. Apparently including Noah. This is some outside the box cray cray thinking and while if those 10 Moms (yeah i know) got wind of this…. So I think this imagining of what life would’ve been like before the flood and the characters that we meet that are vile debaucherous that God wanted to clean the slate well this how you demonstrate that.
I love Guera’s artwork for this series as well. The desperation, despair and depravity are so very well displayed. His flow of the story through pages and panels is excellent. Quite honestly I love the fact that he’s not afraid to show full frontal on Cain too. I mean that scene with Cain on the cross surrounded by animals is a magnificent piece of art.
The change of heart Cain has after being paraded around naked and put back up on the cross when he meets the young man Lodo. Who is preyed upon by the boy who wanted to follow Cain in the first issue yeah that hit him hard. While I still don’t know if Aga gets reunited with her son, Lodo, i’m hoping next issue we see. That the second part of the issue focuses on his change of heart and his newfound desire to live and reunite mother and son well I look forward to seeing how he thinks he can change God’s plan for Noah.
This is beyond anything I could have expected. The language, the violence, the sexual overtones and displays of dominance and depravity on all levels shows a world that he helped created that is in dire need of an overhaul. But road to redemption can Cain travel on? It’ll be interesting to see where Jason decides to take this next.