Titan Comics 2016
Written by Ian Edginton
Illustrated by Caspar Wijngaard
Coloured by Triona Farrell
Lettered by Richard Starkings & Comicraft’s Jimmy Betancourt
Tommy Greyling, a nineteeth-century Pinkerton agent, has discovered the location of one such Piece – his search leading him across the Atlantic Ocean and deep into the heart of a twisted murder mystery. Having fallen in with London Assassins Evie Frye and Henry Green, Greyling found himself involved in a frenetic rooftop chase around the British Museum, the repurcussions of which are still being felt.And in the modern day, in the heart of a secret Abstergo testing facility, paralysed teenager Sean relives these events in an effort to discover where the missing Piece of Eden now lies.
I’ve become such a huge fan of this whole Assassin’s Creed universe. The idea of being in a machine and seeing the world through your ancestor’s eyes is utterly fascinating and what Ian is doing here with Tommy and Sean just makes me happy. This is the reason we love comics, the idea that we can escape and live a life not our own for a short while then return to reality with a new spark of imagination and creativity in our mind’s eye. Ian accomplishes that extremely well with what he’s doing here.
Then throw the ever interesting and always traveling and seeking stories Samuel Clemens into the mix and seriously this just goes to a whole new level of fun and excitement. What’s even better about it is that this could have been an entirely true adventure for Sam I mean he did travel abroad and his knowledge of the Pieces of Eden could have been learned of in his travels so it’s that blend of fiction and reality that really does create the basis for this series to be grounded in what’s real. Also the fact that he’s an adventurous sort who doesn’t shy away from a fight it makes you want to revisit his life and his works.
The characterisation, story development and pacing is wonderfully orchestrated by Ian. There’s this real sense of awe, wonder and a new appreciation for this era, the people in it and what they accomplish without the technology we have today. I love Sean’s ever growing enthusiasm and appreciate as it matches my own. This is some stellar writing by Ian.
Caspar and Triona do some wonderful work on the interiors. The use of page layouts through angles, perspective and backgrounds really take us back in time. That they Sam more handsome than he was adds to his mystique. The characters have these lives of their own that seem to come alive on the page. They suit the writing so well it’s like living a dream or a colour restoration movie.
I’m still waiting for Seas to figure out how he’s being used here. I mean this dude knows he’s eager to be in the machine but he pushes way too much. You get that smarmy impression of him everytime we see him. That’s strong characterisation folks because he’s not around much in this issue as it’s really about Sean experiencing what Tommy was doing in England at this time. Still I can’t wait for that moment when Sean as eager as he is realises what’s happening and to what see what happens then.
There’s an infinite history to explore within this world. Even Sam Clemens mentions how far back this shadowy organisation may have existed. So as long as there’s inspiration and the desire to tell them, not to mention an audience to enjoy them, i’m hoping that the Assassin’s Creed Universe will continue to grow and expand mixing history with fiction in ways that make it plausible and exciting.