Aftershock Comics 2017
Created & Written by Justin Jordan
Created & Illustrated by Eleonora Carlini
Coloured by Silvia Tidei
Lettered by Marshall Dillon
There is a hidden nation. A nation of magic and madness, one that exists in all the forgotten spaces. Your basement, your attic, the haunted house down the street, anyone of those might be a part of the Backways.
The concept here is extremely nice I like the tone and feel of what’s being presented here. While it strikes me as darker than I’d like considering the awe and wonder it could inspire but that dark tone is where were at these days. Well this story takes place in Baltimore but from the rundown street in the opening it could be literally anywhere, though don’t ask why but I'd prefer it to be in London or thereabouts. The whole magic and Backways feel like it should originate there not in Baltimore but hey what do I know and the idea that any place in the world could be a doorway well that fits in nicely.
The opening is effective for a number of reasons. We see Sylvia being taken away in a most extraordinary way and from what Eleonora brings it seems that while she is pagan in ideals she’s also bright and innocent so the contradictory feel of her and what she encounters well it does exactly what it needs to do.
Then we meet Anna. She’s more your typical looking smart girl with the big oversized glasses and trying to dress trendy. It’s clear Sylvia’s mother has no liking for Anna and from the dialogue here we get a nice sense of both the girls relationship and the kind of girl she is. She appears timid and yet determined at the same time and I’m not sure if that is the way she is or just how she wants to come across. I mean I allow people to see one thing when that isn’t who I am it’s all about having people underestimate you and I feel like Anna does that but I can’t say for sure.
So the flashback to younger days and the beginnings of friendship lead Anna to a place where she’s confronted by someone. Looks like a dwarf who surrounds himself with ravens and for the life of me I feel like I should know him either from Druidic lore or from Norse, possibly Egyptian, mythology. I’m writing this down and thinking about it so what does that tell you? It tells you that it doesn’t take long for this story to fully envelope my mind, imagination and sparks that fire, see desire, to know more.
Eleonora brings some absolutely beautiful work to this book. The creativity and imagination is beyond what I would’ve expected and the linework is utterly fantastic. The subtlety that we see or the boldness depending on what it is makes for some great moments. Anna’s visage is lovely and to see and the folks she meets well it’s kind of mesmerising. Her use of page layouts with the angles and perspective in the panels shows a strong eye for storytelling. The fact that she isn’t afraid to utilise backgrounds so effectively brings me so much joy.
There is this quality to Anna that makes her this wonderful version of a magical Nancy Drew. The kind of character who doesn’t let you know she’s phased or shaken and puts on a brave face while looking for clues and trying to figure out the mystery of where Sylvia went. Forget Harry Potter or SyFy’s the Magicians, though she’d fit in well there, Anna’s adventures are going to eclipse pretty much all of them.
Welcome to the Backways a magical world where folks of various species and abilities roam freely. Without know who are friends and who are foes Anna’s going to have one heck of a time getting to Sylvia and then getting them home, if that is there where they really want to be.