Top Cow Productions 2018
Written by Bryan Hill
Illustrated by Jeff Spokes
Lettered by Troy Peteri
The final battle with Basilisk will test Martin, Aphrodite, and Hui-Men. Aphrodite may not be a human being, but she can die like one… and that just might be the peace for which she’s been searching.
I know that Aphrodite IX is the most popular one but with this arc and these three gentlemen V is now my favourite and I have to tell you I want more. I want these guys to figure the next arc, get busy on it and bring it to life. From Bryan’s writing, which I hadn’t realised could get any better but he’s taken that to a whole new level, to the work Jeff provides and yes Troy’s lettering this book exceeds not only expectations but is what a lot books should strive to be like. The concept alone is kind of Terminator but it feels relevant and now in ways that you may not think are real.
A.I. technology is here and people are pushing it further and further in some effort to be the first to do something. That’s not really reason enough for me but it’s how society is now, we race towards the next evolution of technology and don’t think about the consequences that brings. It is a lot of okay did that what’s next and they leave the work to be done by other people who because there is more greed for money and power will misuse it to benefit themselves. Then when that happens hackers or those who want to expose the “truth” will take it things in the opposite direction. This is the future make no doubt about that and we are so much closer to it than anyone realises. Meanwhile I still can’t get the internet or wifi to always work right.
The way that this is structured is utterly brilliant. Why Martin is at Caitlin’s is anyone’s guess but that is where the cops find him to start a conversation with him this is so well portrayed. To see Martin talk about Aphrodite and Hui-Men and then to see them in action almost as if it were a cue to change over, which I am sure it totally was, and the back and forth between the two arcs playing out simultaneously is extremely well done. Bryan keeps showing us how accomplished he is and how much he still can be and that kind of talent, skill and proficiency is something to be greatly admired.
Jeff’s interiors are mind blowing in how good they are. Yes there is a lot of black and a lot of darkness on the page but ya know what it doesn’t feel heavy or oppressive or even evil. What he can accomplish with it and still bring us the level of detail that we see is nothing short of outstanding. Right from the beginning when we finally see Martin’s eyes, I can’t describe the feeling I got but wow just wow. The attention to detail here is phenomenal and to see how he incorporates the backgrounds into the story is amazing in how well it expands the story, the moment and shows this size and scope of this world. The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels shows a bloody brilliant eye for storytelling. Also I have to not that he can women strong, powerful and intelligent while also making them beautiful at the same time without having to show off anatomy.
This has been one of the purest forms of joy to have while reading comics. It is a smartly written, intelligent book that has a strong premise and wow interior artwork.