TKO Studios 2018
Written by Tze Chun
Illustrated by Artyom Trakhanov
Coloured by Giulia Brusco
Lettered & Designed by Jared K. Fletcher
1867. Texas. A group of death row criminals is recruited by a Mexican priest for a suicide mission into Comancheria.
I am not altogether sure when I discovered that Westerns were cool but I think I transitioned to them after reading Warlord and then finding Jonah Hex and of course I couldn’t get enough. Since them I have watched television shows and films in the genre so now it really is something I love. The potential for storytelling and for the characterisation and the situations are seriously unlimited in the size and scope of what’s possible. While Tze doesn’t exactly break new ground here he does understand how to tell a story.
I think the way that this is structured is sensational. The opening here is dynamic, eye-catching and leaves you wonder just what the heck is going on. Yes it’s 1867 and the white and the Native American’s are at war and in such there are some truly heinous things that occurred. That we see some happen here was surprising and brutal however completely honest at the same time. It certainly is more than enough to make the reader want to see more and that is precisely what an opening is supposed to do.
I do like how we meet Father Threadgill and Antonio, not to mention his daughter Grace. Father Threadgill has gone off to a Mission in Cedar Creek leaving Antonio to man the fort as it were. Now I will be honest I have no idea how Father Threadgill manages to have so much money in his safe but I am sincerely hoping with the facts we learn about him he isn’t as crooked as appearances suggest. That however isn’t the story at hand here it something far different. As we soon learn and oh boy I have to give credit where it’s due the way the story unfolds for us is fantastic. The introduction of a key character and subsequently how he becomes a central figure is definitely not what what I was expecting but it’s fascinating nonetheless.
The characterisation here is wonderful to see. Not just in our main characters but pretty much in everyone we meet. It is great to see that such attention is given all around and not just on those who the story revolves around. Here we can see Tze’s influence in how writing television program’s has benefited him in these pages.
Artyom has a very distinct style of illustrating. I really like it too the way we see varying weights in the linework utilised to bring out the attention to detail in such unique ways. The mood he is able to invoke in the reader is extremely nice to see and the colours are just as wonderfully done to really gives that extra something to connect with. I am superbly impressed with how we see the page layouts being utilised here and page 9 with the Father’s departure, that panel was amazing. How we see angles and perspective being utilised in the panels shows us a very solid eye for storytelling. I am a huge fan of how we see the utilisation of backgrounds here as well.
By the end of the issue we see how the 7 Deadly Sins are brought together but aren’t quite yet privy to knowing exactly why. I have a clue but I can’t be sure which means hopefully I will be back for the next issue. You’ll have to visit TKO’s pages and website to find out when they are going to be offered in store or through digital, though the first ones are now free to download and read so take advantage of that if you can!
TKO is an exciting new company and we’ll see if they have what it takes to have staying power but with this being the second of their premiere line that I’ve read and that I thoroughly enjoyed I will say that the potential is definitely here and the talent is exciting to see.