Dark Horse Comics 2015
Story by Joe R. Lansdale
Written by Mark Alan Miller
Illustrated by Piotr Kowalski
Coloured by Kelly Fitzpatrick
Lettered by Nate Piekos
I wasn’t quite sure what this was going to be, my first thought was is it a take on the Tin Man? Well as from that as it gets as it turned out. No it’s the year 1899 and the Steam Man well it’s a walking fortified construct built to deal with the world’s current problem. So basically a giant kind of steampunk humanoid tank/battleship. That in itself makes it incredibly interesting and unique and that it’s set in this era is all the more fun. Yeah I mean steampunk only truly works when it’s in the past and in the west for some reason so this fits the bill. Only there’s one more element here okay actually two but it’s really just the one by the end of the issue.
Piotr is illustrating this story and I’ve come to love what he does and this is no exception. With Kelly colouring it we get some magnificent imagery. From snow topped trees to unusual creatures, the Steam Man itself as well as moments like when they depart the structure that well has a whole slew of humour all it’s own. There’s great power in the illustration that really captures the imagination and flesh out the story being told.
I was a little surprised by all the swearing in this book but then again the crew of the Steam Man are four men and well cramped into tight quarters like on a submarine they are bound to use that kind of language. Sure it’s colourful and for the setting a little off putting but heck roll with it. I do like the diversity of these characters and the intelligence of each and how they banter back and forth. The discussion right off the bat kind of demonstrates not only how familiar with each other but a lot about their personalities. Mark does an extremely good getting us to know these men.
Why would someone build such a thing as the Steam Man? We learn the answer to that and more. While we don’t get to learn everyone’s motivations for doing what they are we learn enough about one man and he’s the man who built and runs the crew of the Steam Man, William Beadle or Captain. Reading this really does remind you of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea or H.G. Wells in it’s scope, content and vision. That makes it akin to a classic already, albeit one with a lot more frank language and since it’s dark horse there shouldn’t be any nudity just a lot of talk about balls and such. Seriously though this and will be like nothing you would expect it to be and that makes it more than worth your time.
I want to talk about certain aspects of this now but I’ll wait till next month so that you can read this issue, be surprised and thrilled by what I’ve seen here and then we can talk about how this all works like it does on so many levels. The creativity, imagination and sheer audacity behind a story of this magnitude is what makes me giddy for the medium. It’s the kind of project too that gets optioned for movie rights down the road. I’m calling it here folks just remember that if we see it on the big screen.
Bold, daring and full of the unexpected blended together in the most unique way possible this story will be the one you talk about for days after.