
Skybound/Image Comics 2014
Created & Written by Joshua Williamson
Created & Illustrated by Andrei Bressan
Coloured by Adriano Lucas
Lettered by Pat Brosseau
Enoch came to Sameal to ask his old friend why he was harbouring Mikey and it’s time for that conversation. I love what Joshua is doing here as not only do we learn more about Sameal but of his time in Terrenos. The bonds of friendship he forged with Enoch and the fight they had against Lore before the mages left and came to Earth. I found it interesting as does Enoch that Sameal didn’t mention he had a family at all and that it all comes to light now. Had Sameal known that this would happen? We won’t know for sure because he’s not saying but I will say that the characterization here is phenomenal.
Meanwhile Mikey and the Nevermind have been separated and Mikey’s body lies dying as a result. Still Aaron and Brennan aren’t going to leave him to the mercy of this creature no matter what it says and does to them. For a man who found out his father and children were meant to be a part of this while he wasn’t Aaron sure is taking all this in stride and proving that all things considered he’s a damn good father.
Oh my the plot thickens further as the ladies are still guests of Mastema. Though this time around it’s Rya who is going into labor and the birth of her and Mikey’s child is imminent, one that Mastema insists cannot be born on Earth. I wonder why that is, could this child be the key to freeing Mikey? Still I cannot wait to find out why Mastema said this and what this child could possibly mean for Terrenos.
Finally we’re seeing the potential in Brennan that Joshua has been leading up to since day one! With everything he’s gone through and experienced this young man is more ready and prepared than anyone realizes for what he’s about to become. By embracing the lineage of his grandfather and becoming a mage he’s really going to step into his own and possibly become greater than any of the mages that fled a falling Terrenos to Earth. It’s just too bad that the brothers are such opposite sides of the same coin, brawn and brains, that they cannot work together to solve the problem before them.
Just as Joshua keeps stepping up his game so does Andrei. The work he brings to this has such depth and range that you can’t help but get lost in this world. His use of pages and panels, which are filled with intricate backgrounds, from different angles and perspective and the sheer amount of attention to detail is stunning in it’s scope. The flow this story has is superb to see. With Adriano they bring so much life, emotion and feeling to the work that i’m constantly amazed by what they are capable of doing.
One of the things that seems to amaze me about the way Joshua is writing this is that we constantly get these rushes where it seems something huge is about to happen and the anticipation is excruciatingly delicious. They keep coming as more and more is revealed and yet there still seems to be so much more yet to come and it’s that roller coaster ride of emotions that keep us spellbound and coming back for more.
With such a well crafted, executed and consistent level of workmanship that we see time and time again it’s no wonder this remains one of the strongest books on the market for me.