Titan Comics 2016
Created, Written & Illustrated by Andre Lima Araujo
Colored by Arsia Rozegar
Lettered by Tom Williams
I’m all for a different type of futuristic type of story and this one is kind of a cyberpunk take on it and that’s pretty exciting. The creation of Olissipo City in Portugal was done nicely and in an organic way that really sets the stage for how this new world is fantastic. The imagination and creativity to take the world as we know it and then to bring it forward this way is amazing. Also for American audiences this is a fantastic look at something outside the norm.
The duality of the opening as we see an android going through the streets of the city as our intrepid detective wakes up to start his day was nicely done as well. Both give us a great sense of the people who inhabit this world. Though I have to question the artwork a bit, yes at times it seems like we’re seeing this through monitor screens which is uniquely different it also kind of gets odd after a while. As if it’s cluttering the page and distracting. Granted it does add a whole new dimension I think it may have been more effective in black & white than in colour.
So after a mysterious female android escapes capture from a unit pursuing her we see the detective and his team. There are a few things happening here that I found extremely interesting among them is that the unit pursuing the android seemed like androids themselves with one lone human. A meek looking man who doesn’t appear to be working with this crew willingly and that adds a new dimension to them as it adds an air of mystery and intrigue. As well as setting up a source of conflict.
Another thing is that the detective, his boss and his team remind me greatly of an NCIS team. Most noticeably Elsa who seems to be extremely dead on Linda Hunt’s character. I also have to admit that Rodrigo reminds me of a young Gibbs even if he’s a smoker. Their group dynamic is extremely well portrayed here as are their roles in the team.
There are a lot of things I find familiar in the way this story is presented and yet there are as many that I find new and exciting. This blend of it all is close to what could be and yet as fantastic as the Blade Runner movie. Combined with some extremely interesting, detailed interior artwork with that added computer generated feel, and this is something new and exciting. So why is this particular android running around, you’ll learn about the model during the story to understand its uniqueness, and how is Rodrigo and his team going to be able to stay out of the middle of it without getting in over their heads?
In a city run by Corporations instead of a Government how is a financially struggling precinct supposed to police the city? What’s going to happen when this crew with tech and gear far beyond a street gang’s capability is exposed? I’m anxious to find out.
Titan has been slowly and quietly releasing books that are of such high quality and of great interest. It’s an exciting time to be finding their books.