Skybound/Image Comics 2019
Created & Written by Kyle Starks
Created & Illustrated by Erica Henderson
Lettered by Deron Bennett
Our surviving hit-men go into full-on kill mode as they try to take down the leader of the Merda Morra gang and maybe finally put this whole thing to bed. Though, you know, it IS a whole gang they’ll have to fight, and they WILL have to take down current No. 1 hit-man Taipan to get the job done. Want to take bets on how many get out of this issue alive?
And then there were 7. While we started off with more than 10 Little Indians the real questions remains if there will be any remaining by the end of the last issue? This has to be one of the more creative, different and original stories that I have come across. I am having so much fun reading this and seeing this diverse mix of personalities that are on display here and those keep expanding, point in case we finally meet Echidna. I don’t care what anybody says Fuck is still my favourite but he is wearing too much clothing for my tastes.
The way that this is structured is sensationally well done. The story & plot development that we see through the planning, the characterisation and the information and revelations, plus how the action sequences are woven into this is utterly fantastic. I think there is something I the way that Kyle manages to flesh out the characters here that uses some very common traits that we see in every day people. Take Dave for example, sure he wears a sweater with a tiger on it but that’s now what you really notice about him, no it’s his reaction to silence and being nervous that’s what stands out to me anyway. This makes him relatable to and actually likeable and endearing in some instances. That Kyle doesn’t try to make these characters seem untouchable or too far outside the people we know in our lives is something makes me appreciate the story all that much more.
The interiors here are fantastic and I am extremely impressed with the amount of emotion that she is able to eek out of these characters. Personalities shine here and Dave with his tiger sweater speaks more volumes about him than the dialogue ever could. We know I want more backgrounds it’s only thing missing from making this absolutely perfect. That being said we do see them when they are needed to expand the moment and bring a size and scope to the story and the way that she’s able to construct the panels is phenomenal. The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show off a stupendous eye for storytelling. The colour work here is delightful as well. The shading and the colour blocking are sensational. The way it’s utilised to bring these god awful wonderful clothing to life is extraordinary.
The way that this story just flows and the excitement that comes with it is beyond anything possible. The whole premise is a little offbeat to begin with but the way it’s being told and how everything is being revealed is just a complete and utterly brilliant stage play. Read the dialogue carefully throughout because certain people are definitely not stupid and the questions that they ask about what we’ve all seen. It also has this great effect on the reader as well since we get to keep those questions to ourselves and more. Almost as if we’re screaming at the characters like a stupid woman going into the cellar in a haunted feature film.
Skybound/Image keep finding ways to impress, keep themselves on our lips and in our minds and imaginations. It is a wonderful thing to be able to do and to feel as if I am a part of.