Skybound/Image Comics 2014
Created & Written by Joshua Williamson
Created & Illustrated by Andrei Bressan
Coloured by Adriano Lucas
This is still one of the best, strongest and most intensely beautiful in it’s artwork on stands today. Joshua has created a world and a character in Mikey that we continue to see grow and evolve each issue with flashbacks to when he first arrived in Terrenos to seeing him with his brother Brendan and what they are going through continuing to shape and define who he is and will still yet become.
The opening showcasing the aftermath of what a Diviner is capable of doing and that they are without a doubt to dangerous to be faced in the best of circumstances bring us to the present and Mikey’s confrontation with the twisted spell chasing them. I have to say that it wants to expel the Lore from Mikey and he refuses is interesting and the imagery here of the bear that is the earthly embodiment of the spell, making it seem very much like something a Native American worship or praise as part of their world, is simply incredible it is so breathtaking seriously.
This Diviner on the Earthly plane while having saved and healed Brennan as a sign of good faith and it’s desire to purge the champion of the Lore’s influence in Nevermind and Mikey’s absolute resolution not to be cured raises a lot of questions for me as a reader. Could things not be exactly as we’ve been led to believe? There are so many different factions at play and while Mikey’s time on Earth has seemingly reawakened his resolve as Champion of Terrenos could it be too little too late?
What really surprised me however is what happened with Brennan. After trying to reason with Mikey about going home and telling him he’d go without him and then the aftermath of the unseen conversation between Mikey and Nevermind he’s suddenly holding the blades and warning off the Diviner spell willing to fight it to save his little brothers life. That Brennan can wield the blades and we see them glow with power only strengthens that they are brothers sharing the same genetic makeup and from what we learned earlier he may be able to disrupt the Diviner and send it back home.
Wendy’s still at the house trying to piece together everything she’s got into a solid understanding of what Mikey’s going through when Mikey’s very pregnant wife, Rya, arrives. This should only prove to strengthen the bond a mother has for her son as well as suddenly finding out that his notes are completely true and she’s about to be a grandmother and draws her more firmly into what’s happening should be some absolute wonderful stuff. Never get between a mother and her child she’ll fight more fiercely than you could ever imagine and well this should be good if it plays out like it will in my mind.
Joshua’s story telling abilities seem to just get stronger with each new issue to hit stands and considering how extremely talented he already is makes that statement almost unbelievable but exciting to witness nonetheless. With how gosh darn good this book is Skybound/Image needs to let him bring back Necessary Evil as that book could be another feather in an already crowded hat of excellent reads.