Boom-Studios 2015
Created & Written by James Tynion IV & Noah J. Yuenkel
Illustrated by Matthew Fox
Coloured by Adam Metcalfe
Something crazy is going on that’s clear enough what that is isn’t obvious. I mean we saw the boy die last issue the strange green glow and the crazy dude that marked Becky while she was in the house. Malcolm wanted to be the one contacted and marked so he’s a tad jealous of Becky but this issue we see there’s more to that young man than meets the eye. This is a six issue series so the fact that things kind of unravel quickly isn’t surprising what is is that all seems to be flowing naturally not rushed. James is a very accomplished writer and he and Noah are weaving one heck of an interesting tale.
So there is a flashback to a military thing where a group of men are being indoctrinated into some organization and it’s kind of standard-ish. Till one wakes up it’s very any sci-fi long distance travel-esque but there is something decidedly different about this guy. Once you see his back and something with his hands well it’s super weird. You can’t help but think what the heck is going on here so you have to keep reading you have to know what this is about and how this guy and those kids fit into all this.
Well as if all that weren’t enough suddenly the parents of these two kids not to mention a teacher are all involved as well. See when Malcolm learns Eustace was taking pictures with his phone he goes to morgue and snags the phone like any good spy guy would. This kid has some ideas and moves and is highly entertaining to read about. We do however from this get to learn more about the fact this isn’t the first time something like this has happened and the adults involved well are ironically connected to the current events.
Honestly I really am impressed with the writing, the dialogue and way the pacing of the story rolls along. Sure we get to see some oddities but i’m not sure if that’s due to Becky being infected by something or if that dude who woke up causes her to see him like this but it’s creepy and he does get around. Plus the nurse at reception giving Malcolm and Dr. Lehrer a big clue thanks her girlfriends loves that tourist trap well that is one of those coincidences, mmhmm, that comes along once in a million.
The Sheriff, Beth’s father, knows more than he’s letting on and he and Lehrer know Malcolm’s involved but not the extent of Beth’s yet and he’s spying on the Lehrer to boot. So paranoid much? There’s much more to learn about the past and how it ties into the present and can the kids uncover the truth before anyone else dies or will the grown ups stumbling to cope with the past get in the way despite having good intentions?
Matthew and Adam’s work on the interiors is charming. I like the emotion and expressions we get from this the sense of Malcolm’s excitement and Beth’s reticence in being involved in all this plus with the right amount of campy creepiness that comes with the guy following Beth. I feel good reading this it’s just fun and interesting enough to be really entertaining.