Titan Comics 2019
Written by Michael Green & Mike Johnson
Illustrated by Andres Guinaldo
Coloured by Marco Lesko
Lettered by Jim Campbell
Isobel and Cleo have made contact with an underworld community that lives beneath the streets of Los Angeles and its leader, MALIK, who also runs an underground railway that helps
Replicants to escape. After Ash reported back to Selwyn on the progress of her investigation, her own Spinner was attacked in mid-air by another craft, which sent her crashing and burning towards the streets of the city below....
I really like this book so far. While I am sure that fans of Blade Runner are over the moon excited by this or mad that it isn't their vision, yes the climate today is just that, for folks like myself who saw the first one years ago but cannot tell you much about it so this is just another fabulous science fiction story in a pre-made world. So I am enjoying it for what it is right here right now and that's a detective story pure and simple.
I am really enjoying the way that this is being told. The story & plot development is strong, smooth and utterly daring in how we see the release of information, twists and turns and the unusual developments that we hadn't precisely expected to see. The character development here is sensational as we have this great opportunity to get to know the characters better by slipping into their world and seeing how they react to what's put in their way. You can learn more about a person through how the act, react and overcome obstacles than you can just by dialogue and conversation alone. We get all those opportunities and more within these pages and that is what makes a good story a great one.
When Ash knew she wasn't going to be walking away from what happened and stuck it out and still has that sense of fire in her is a wonderful thing to see. So what if they found out about her back brace and are uncomfortable with that, she's been doing this job a long time and honestly to see how easy people turn on one of their own well that leads to bigger and better opportunities if ya ask me. Ash unfettered by rules and regulations yeah this is going to be like J.J. Says Dy-no-Mite!
I am a huge fan of the work both Andrew and Marco are doing on this book. First the linework is truly exquisite and how we see the varying weights being utilised to bring out all of this attention to detail is utterly fabulous. That this isn't limited to just the characters but extends throughout everything we see, backgrounds etc., making it seem like the setting is more realistic. The utilisation of the backgrounds to enhance the moments and bring a sense of size and scope, depth perception and scale do all of that and so much more for the reader. The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels shows a stellar eye for storytelling. The colour work is so gorgeous. I love how we see the choice of colours and how within them the various hues and tones that utilised to create shading, bruises even stubble or clothing just makes this huge difference. Also that different places have different lighting meaning different colour choices is superb to see on the pages.
Ash is one of those characters that gets under your skin and whether or not you like her is not relevant because it's her drive, determination and willingness or stubbornness depending on your point of view, that you cannot help but admire. She's like that itch you cannot scratch and when you finally find a way to scratch it yeah that moment is Ash. I am a huge fan of this book, these creators for the level and quality of the work they are doing and Titan Comics for getting this together and out on stands.