Titan Comics 2016
Written by Ian Edginton
Illustrated by Caspar Wijngaard
Coloured by Triona Farrell
Lettered by Richard Starkings & Comicraft’s Jimmy Betancourt
With the trail ending at the British Museum, Tommy ― along with London Assassins Evie Frye and Henry Green, fledgling writer Mark Twain, and the London Met’s Chief Inspector Frederick Abberline ― made haste for the institution, only for Tommy to end up on the wrong end of a Templar blade!
This issue we got back to the kids at the institute for a bit. We’ve seen that Isaiah is using the kids for his own purpose and pretty much without remorse but Sean’s a unique case. As he and Nat have talked in the past and we see now he’s pushing himself beyond any reasonable limit but he won’t stop. As wrapped up in the mystery of what he’s experiencing as well as having the use of his legs again he’s determined not to stop regardless of what this experience is doing to his health.
Meanwhile back in time we see some interesting things like the beginnings of a bullet proof vest. Interesting turn of events to say the least though Sean’s reaction to what’s happened feels very real. So going back in to see what happened from at least one angle makes sense, i’d want to know what happened next. Though honestly i’d also want to wait till I was sure I wouldn’t have epic technicolour yawn either.
So while we’re in the past one thing really struck me and it feels like Caspar’s interiors kind of slacked a bit. The backgrounds are fantastic but the “in focus” stuff feels like he didn’t have enough time to spend on them as he has been. There’s more of less finished cartoon style going on here. Could it be my own perception I suppose but there are times when it just feels like more of a let down to what we’ve been seeing. Almost as if doing a monthly book and it’s scheduling caught up to him.
I like that we’re seeing both the past and the present this issue. It means that we’re finally getting to see more of the things that are behind the scenes. I mean Isaiah is part one of the organisations that are seeking the pieces of eden for some unknown reasons and that we’re getting to see more interaction in that arena fleshes out why he’s using Sean so hard. Plus Nat and the siblings have their own doubts about the legitimacy of what’s going on here and if we get to see more of their snooping and comparing notes and such well it becomes more of a thriller.
That there’s more going on here than examining the past for clues to the Pieces of Eden takes this to a place that’s infinitely more interesting. As much as I like the idea of living your ancestor’s life there has to be more to it than that and we’re seeing the beginning of a revolution of the test subjects, well i’m hoping, as they try to figure out why they are there. I can’t wait to see where Ian is going to take this next. As he keeps blending the past and the present into a new cohesive story i’m getting more excited about this title.