Ablaze Publishing 2019
Written by Benjamin Von Eckartsberg
Illustrated by Thomas Von Kummant
Translated by Ivanka Hahnenberger
Orphaned brothers Zach and Archer are now a part of Fort Apache, and are expected to pull their weight around the community. But Archer in particular has some other ideas... So do the other established residents of the colony, making life hard on the newcomers. The boys will have to prove themselves, and show some of the skills they've picked up along the way in this harsh, unforgiving new world.
I am really enjoying this and it is so different than what I was imagining it would be that makes me appreciate all the more. Benjamin does something really smart with the storytelling here and he doesn't show us what the effects of the “White Plague” has on people and animals. This builds it's own unique kind of tension where we have this overwhelming desire to see that in action while simultaneously feeling fear upon discovery. This is some extraordinary writing here and I have tot say that I am incredibly impressed and totally under it's spell.
The way that this is being told is just bloody brilliant. The story & plot development that we see here through the sequence of events unfolding as well as how the reader learns information is extremely well done. I like how we see the hazing ritual of sorts as a welcome to the neighbourhood from the delinquents for a myriad of reasons. Just the way we see not only how the brothers are coming into the community but we are getting a darn good look at those already there. Creating the layers of storytelling that make it feel complicated and interesting. The character development that we see is phenomenal and I really feel like I am getting a clearer understanding of them with each appearance. The pacing is superb and as it takes us through the pages we see the twists and turns being revealed. All of this creates the books ebb & flow and it almost feels like watching a soufflé rise with bated breath that it doesn't fall.
This is a really fresh take on a post apocalyptic world and that alone should be worth more than it's getting credit for. After all just when you think you've seen it all along comes something like this to prove you wrong. Plus you'll never be so happy to find out how wrong you could be.
I am completely enamoured with the interiors here. I am a huge fan of the way that Thomas has mastered the art of digital artwork. There is just something about the way that we colours with both natural and artificial lights and how they create the mood and atmosphere is remarkable. I am so impressed with how the various hues and shades within the colours can help create musculature or how they enhance the shading, highlights and shadow work. The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show a superb eye for storytelling. How backgrounds are utilised and within the composition inside the panels as well as they provide us with some excellent depth perception, scale and that overall sense of size and scope. I think the way that we see is just beautifully rendered all around and kudos for that.
We are still in the introductory getting to know you stage and we're getting into the heart and meat of the story. The pacing and the way we see things developing has a great feel to it so that you have things you want to see more of and then there things we haven't seen yet that we are dying to. Just the way that this is crafted is really sensational to see as it comes to life in your hands. This could be any portion of the world that we see and that has a very universal appeal to it as well. I cannot recommend this highly enough.