DPM Publishing 2016
Written by Stephan Nilson
Illustrated by Douglas Shuler
Lettered by Charles Pritchett
The battle for the Mnemosyne rages on! Agent 1.22, Sani-Mech, and Medi-Bot fight their way through hordes of Tempest Virus victims while Matt rushes to save her.
This is an example of why it’s important to follow the little guys. Yes it takes longer to get the issues out, which is one reason they need your support, but the end result is well worth it. You won’t find anything else out there with a similar concept, look, tone and feel to it and that alone should be exciting but Stephan is a good, solid writer and he knows how to tell a story with layers to it. I am enjoying the way that this is structured and how the overall ebb & flow of action balanced with story & plot development is done. I would wholeheartedly support this so that the issues come out faster, though sometimes it’s unavoidable.
Matt ah the opening with him is very interesting. His characterisation and how we see him for who he is through the dialogue and actions here is sensationally well done. We aren’t really supposed to like him and that much I think is clear, he tries to distance himself from emotions so he can do his job as methodically as possible. Which could be admirable but his speech to Rae is densely populated with everything we should know about him and not all of it leaves him in a favourable light. Personally I love this! Time spent on him and kind of almost making him Mnemosyne’s counterbalance of sorts is part of what really attracts me to the book.
While I have no clue what’s really going on with Mnemosyne but she has found herself in something of a pickle to say the least. The fact that we are finally seeing past the veneer and getting those glimpses into her past brings me joy. Of course under these circumstances what she saw may well have left her too rattled to think clearly. Her snarky, overconfident opponent however she is someone that needs to be taken down the to bottom rung. How is it that Stephan can write the heck out of a “bad guy” is beyond me but somehow I am thinking that I don’t want to get on his bad side as it may just be too dark a place.
The interiors here are pretty darn good. While I am still adjusting to seeing such work done through computers this one has all the appeal of a video game. That is what it feels like to me that this like a foundation that a game would be built upon if that makes any sense at all. The prototype bodies with the mix and match (Fashion Plate anyone) of heads and hair, this is what how it reads to me. Still I do like the intensity and the visual effects that we see, though there are times that the sense of movement really needs an upgrade instead of feeling like it’s an action figure still.
The creativity and imagination that we see is utterly sensational and just the way we see things like ships or the robots or heck even the people it all shines. Matt however is in desperate need of a haircut, I mean this whole mullet business is gross. The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show a really polished eye for storytelling. A big thank you for the way backgrounds are utilised here as well, it gives that much needed sense of size and scope to the book as well as enhancing the panels they are in.
This has some extremely good, strong writing through it’s story & plot development, pacing and yes the characterisation. Then add into the mix this style of art and we are treated to one hell of an interesting and unique book.