The Black Monday Murders #4
Image Comics 2016
Written by Jonathan Hickman
Illustrated by Tomm Coker
Coloured by Michael Garland
Lettered by Rus Wooton
As stories are told it becomes harder and harder to come up with new original takes on things that have permeated our consciousness for generations. So leave it to Jonathan to be able to take those strands and weave them into something new and fresh for us to revel in. Conspiracy theories abound and secret cabals come and go but here is story that takes those and adds something a little bit extra. Rebellion and vengeance.
Personally i’m more than a little enamoured with how Jonathan is telling this particular story. We’ve seen the Detective learning as he goes and finding himself thrust into the deep end without a floatation device but now we’re seeing the history of the siblings. Daniel may be dead but it’s his sister who well we’ll call it welcomed back to the family who takes center stage. This is her story of being away and now being back.
I love the fact that through her dialogue and the flashbacks not to mention her interaction with the woman in white, plus Tomm and Michael’s visuals, that she comes across as this strong, smart and determined woman whom you want nothing to do with being on her bad side. You can feel her presence come off the pages and she’s the kind of woman who even men who like bad girls stay the hell away from. She’s like a storm brewing off the coast that’s about ready to reach one of those high category levels and it’s so evident from the way she looks, moves and acts.
That the guys can bring this kind of characterisation to the pages here isn’t unexpected but it is incredibly exciting. She’s the kind of character you want to know, see in action and stay out of her way while she goes about her business. She’s alluring, frightening and completely and utterly fascinating and this is the issue we learn so much about her that leads up to her actions this issue. This is one of those issues where everything falls into place in such a way that it’s impossible to say that it was done on purpose, even though we know it was.
Tomm and Michael’s work on the interiors here are really stunning stuff. I love the attention to detail that we see. The use of backgrounds fills me with so much added oomph for what is happening, fleshing things out so incredibly well. The way the page layouts feature angles and perspective really control the flow of the story beautifully. There’s also this way they are able to portray the emotions that seep into the bones as you read the words that chill you deep down.
The more we learn the more we want to know and all we’re really privy to this issue is the twins upbringing and how Daniel was chosen head of house while his sister was banished. The other houses are more mysterious and hopefully we’ll see more of their roles as the next arc starts. In the meantime if you’ve ever thought the phrase “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned” doesn’t mean anything read this and rethink that position.
With some outstanding writing, characterisation and plot developments alongside some of the most effective well suited interiors to match this series defies expectations.
Image Comics 2016
Written by Jonathan Hickman
Illustrated by Tomm Coker
Coloured by Michael Garland
Lettered by Rus Wooton
As stories are told it becomes harder and harder to come up with new original takes on things that have permeated our consciousness for generations. So leave it to Jonathan to be able to take those strands and weave them into something new and fresh for us to revel in. Conspiracy theories abound and secret cabals come and go but here is story that takes those and adds something a little bit extra. Rebellion and vengeance.
Personally i’m more than a little enamoured with how Jonathan is telling this particular story. We’ve seen the Detective learning as he goes and finding himself thrust into the deep end without a floatation device but now we’re seeing the history of the siblings. Daniel may be dead but it’s his sister who well we’ll call it welcomed back to the family who takes center stage. This is her story of being away and now being back.
I love the fact that through her dialogue and the flashbacks not to mention her interaction with the woman in white, plus Tomm and Michael’s visuals, that she comes across as this strong, smart and determined woman whom you want nothing to do with being on her bad side. You can feel her presence come off the pages and she’s the kind of woman who even men who like bad girls stay the hell away from. She’s like a storm brewing off the coast that’s about ready to reach one of those high category levels and it’s so evident from the way she looks, moves and acts.
That the guys can bring this kind of characterisation to the pages here isn’t unexpected but it is incredibly exciting. She’s the kind of character you want to know, see in action and stay out of her way while she goes about her business. She’s alluring, frightening and completely and utterly fascinating and this is the issue we learn so much about her that leads up to her actions this issue. This is one of those issues where everything falls into place in such a way that it’s impossible to say that it was done on purpose, even though we know it was.
Tomm and Michael’s work on the interiors here are really stunning stuff. I love the attention to detail that we see. The use of backgrounds fills me with so much added oomph for what is happening, fleshing things out so incredibly well. The way the page layouts feature angles and perspective really control the flow of the story beautifully. There’s also this way they are able to portray the emotions that seep into the bones as you read the words that chill you deep down.
The more we learn the more we want to know and all we’re really privy to this issue is the twins upbringing and how Daniel was chosen head of house while his sister was banished. The other houses are more mysterious and hopefully we’ll see more of their roles as the next arc starts. In the meantime if you’ve ever thought the phrase “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned” doesn’t mean anything read this and rethink that position.
With some outstanding writing, characterisation and plot developments alongside some of the most effective well suited interiors to match this series defies expectations.
RSS Feed
