Image Comics 2016
Written by Simon Spurrier
Illustrated by Ryan Kelly
Ink Assists by Barbara Guttman
Coloured by Nick Filardi-London
Lee Loughridge-the Red Place
Matt Wilson-Afghanistan
Lettered by Simon Bowland
...IN LONDON Louise Canton was tormented by monstrous transformations ...IN AFGHANISTAN she travelled with other shapeshifters to trace a fiend like herself ...IN THE RED PLACE she’s the captive of the rogue monstress she came to kill
This is one of those incredibly good, weird and must read, pay attention and absorb in order to follow stories. I’ve never seen a supernatural creature type story like this and Simon really goes that extra mile in making seem as believable and interesting as possible. Who would have thought A. these creatures exist and B. that they would be utilized by governments in their operations to not only participate in wars but go after their own kind to stop them from becoming major power players on the world stage.
The way we see Lou’s journey from discovery to hardened and disillusioned soldier is one that is as complex as the concept surrounding it. I don’t know how he can keep each of her personality progression as pure as he does flipping around the timeline this way.
In the Red it’s kind of intense to see where Lou finds herself. I mean while it does say hey they’ve been captured and are at the mercy of the woman they were sent after what we see here is utterly amazing. From her crazy, yes I think she’s cuckoo for cocoa puffs, captures escapades to the idea of what she’s created and the fate of some of those she came with it’s really that Bam right off the bat to grab, by the collar, and keep you riveted.
The Afghanistan part is interesting for a number of reasons. I want to learn more about this group of characters and where they come from and what they can do. There’s enough seriousness of the situation of what they see and are doing but woven into that is some great humour, yeah that whole thing with the Viking playing with himself. This is the section that I really want to explore more it has incredible potential and with this cast of such diverse people i’m thoroughly intrigued.
Okay coming to grips with her new reality and not trusting her girlfriend enough to tell her the truth that’s illuminating but at the same time the most predictable. It is nice that she’s a scared little girl in all this and so lost and confused by what’s happening then the Afghanistan shows her becoming more confident but here she’s really this whiny unmotivated little thing.
The interior artwork is consistently amazing to see. From the different colouring from different folks in each segment manages to somehow change the atmosphere of the work. With the creativity and style Ryan brings and his use of pages and panels the work is just as important to believing the story as the words themselves.
This an amazing universe full of interesting characters, possibilities and scenarios you’d never think to encounter.