Image Comics 2016
Written by Simon Spurrier
Penciled by Ryan Kelly
Inked by Barbara Guttman & Miguel Montenegro
Coloured by Nick Filardi-London
Lee Loughridge-The Red Place
Matt Wilson-Afghanistan
Lettered by Simon Bowland
....IN LONDON the Inhand Org
offered to cure
Lou of her
monstrous curse, but only at a price
...IN AFGHANISTAN
she travelled with shapeshifting mercs,
unaware they were leading her into a trap
...IN THE RED PLACE
Lou’s
child is being stolen by a rogue
monstress... as the
Inhand Org
closes in
Wow what a way to end this first (?) story arc! Simon has done an absolute beautiful job in tying in all the stories so that we get a completely suitable ending for all that’s happened so far. It’s full of some excellent characterization and for the first time we get to see Lou in a brand new light. One that will forever change the landscape of the world he’s created here.
There is also some great moments as we see Sri’s true nature revealed, meaning her real mission and why she’s along for the ride here. How Mr. Bleacher was able to use his position and his knowledge to manipulate the situation and a vulnerable girl with no idea of what was happening to her played magnificently. Though I have to say he’s among my new favourite bad guys after all this. There’s nothing more dangerous than a man who believes with every fiber of his being that he’s got the right to do what he’s done and would continue to do so regardless of its consequences.
This issue also has a great look into the backstory of how many of the world’s nations and leaders know of these forgotten fabled creatures. How the funding was put into place for Inhand Org. and how they learned and use superstition and turned it into science. Not to mention a bit of monologuing taking place since they don’t realize just what kind of person Lou really is and giving her all this information well you’ll see how all that turns out here.
Ryan’s interiors were freakin wonderful. I love his imagination and attention to detail in creating these characters both in and out of their creature forms. The way he has the story flow through pages and panels and the coloured border to show where they fall in it’s just so well thought out and executed. The use of backgrounds and little touches he puts in the people on their clothes or Lou’s stitches really just enhance the mood, tone and feeling from the story.
This has been a roller coaster ride from day one as we’ve had to see three different perspectives throughout and to finally see them coalesce into the ending was worth all of it. This has been a stellar arc and hopefully it truly is just the beginning.