Skybound/Image Comics 2014
Created & Written by Joshua Williamson
Created & Illustrated by Andrei Bressan
Coloured by Adriano Lucas
This has to be my favorite new series from last year into this one it’s so darn interesting and Joshua’s writing is such that you fall into the story so easily and find yourself enveloped in the world Mikey inhabits. Andrei’s interiors too are a thing of magic, beauty and grace as he weaves the words into pictures and breathes life into it. Their combined efforts make this one of those rare books that seemingly can’t get any better but does with each issue.
So as the story moves forward and we see more of what Mikey is going through thanks to his nightmare as Brennan tries to wake him up only to be frightened by him. Brennan knows that this is indeed his brother but he also knows that something just isn’t right either and as the issue continues he begins to see more as Mikey tries his best to deflect the interest in that side of him. It really some of the most intense, dramatic and complex writing and characterization that we are seeing in comics today.
There’s something about the way Andrei depicts Mikey and by extension his father Aaron that makes them so much like classic Hollywood Movie Stars and yet also primal and vulnerable so that you just stare at them. Handsome yes indeed and approachable maybe and definitely damaged and the kind you want to try to help become something better. That’s a lot to portray in just their visage.
So we do get our first real look at Lore this issue and yeah okay this is the kind of stuff that would give Clive Barker nightmares and then turn around and make a book out of. Easily as terrifying as Pinhead if not more so and wow you begin to see a little bit of how Mikey might have been outclassed even with training.
Poor Aaron he just can’t catch a break. He knows in his heart of heart that this is his son and he’ll do whatever it takes to protect and believe in him. That’s a father’s undying love and while Wendy doesn’t want to face that reality the fact that they are all here in the police station talking about his shortcomings as a father thanks to his own and what happens with local law enforcement and then an added bonus of some young punk with a Napoleon complex enters the picture. Oh National Security thinks Mikey’s now a threat and are treating this like it’s some homegrown terrorist thing. I cannot wait to see how Aaron deals with this schmuck.
When Mikey was bathing in the lake I was hoping we’d get a better look at him. Still what happens between him and Brennan really raises questions and the fact that brotherly love goes only so far is fantastic to see. Though part of him is that he’s the big brother and he’s not exactly liking what he sees in his brother.
A surprise twist ending and further explanation of what we’ve seen fall into place and from the looks of things Earth seems to be the next battleground for the forces of Terrenos.
This is how you tell story people you give the reader characterization and artwork they can’t turn away from and then you just keep upping the ante with each issue building like a crescendo till you can’t believe it hasn’t hit it’s peak. Original, unique, beautiful and deadly this story encompasses everything you believe in.