Delta 13 #1
IDW Publishing 2018
Written by Steve Niles
Illustrated by Nat Jones
Lettered by Tom B. Long
Who knows what mysteries lie deep in the asteroid belt? When a mysterious, huge, and previously undiscovered asteroid looms over their ship, a small crew of blue-collar workers discovers a terrifying threat unlike anything they've ever seen. Now, the crew must escape the asteroid, but even if they do, will they be able to escape each other and anything they bring back with them?
I have to say right off the bat that there are few collaborations that are as serendipitous as this one here and you have to include Tom in that, don’t underestimate the power of how words are presented. In my eye this has a very almost classic style to it that mixes the ethereal and the exotic nature of space in a Sci-Fi/Horror story. Yes it feels familiar because we all have seen this scenario and by that I mean space exploration gone wrong but these guys know how to leave it at feeling and turn it into something new, fresh and exciting.
There is a lot to like here and it feels like we’re being thrown into this well established reality where hitting the asteroid belt dropping of spider like drones to wonder and record everything about it can is kind of spectacular. By not bothering to give us background information on the year the whole state of our planet and just focusing on what’s happening here is sensational to me. It feels natural not contrived or forced upon me it just is and that’s that so let’s focus on the crew and what appears to be their job. Notice I said job not mission because from the dialogue here and the description above this is work nowadays. Spendings week roaming space and placing these drone things it’s cool, interesting, boring and stressful and all of that is in these pages.
Steve is a master storyteller in my humble opinion and the way he’s able to structure this story and keep it moving forward and giving us just enough characterisation to intrigue but not make decisive is fantastic. I like the characters of this crew they seem to work well together, not quite family but comfortable with each other. No one stands out as the villain or bad guy type here and I find that aspect fascinating right now. So the room for development here is limitless and it feels like that when or if someone dies here we’re gonna feel the impact of that.
Nat does some amazing work here as well. His style exudes feeling and atmosphere at every turn. The lighting from the monitors and the almost eerie glow they give off wow that’s creepy and incredible at the same time. The faces, facial expression and the subtle way he works detail into this has this sublime affect that you barely notice because it’s not overt. The way page layouts are utilised and how we see the angles and perspective here is so hauntingly beautiful and his eye for storytelling has never been stronger. While I am a big advocate for utilising backgrounds this style and how we see it I wouldn’t change a damn thing about it.
I am impressed too with Tom’s lettering and I believe this is the first time I am talking about a letter in my review. From the way he is able to have it come across on the page brings that whole dichotomy of hard and soft, usually talked about in fashion, so it doesn’t feel like it was placed there it feels like it belongs. Also I like the varying uses in how we here voices so kudos.
This is now, it’s fresh, current, interesting and not only introduces this series but has created the kind of tension and anxiety that makes the reader lick their lips in anticipation.
IDW Publishing 2018
Written by Steve Niles
Illustrated by Nat Jones
Lettered by Tom B. Long
Who knows what mysteries lie deep in the asteroid belt? When a mysterious, huge, and previously undiscovered asteroid looms over their ship, a small crew of blue-collar workers discovers a terrifying threat unlike anything they've ever seen. Now, the crew must escape the asteroid, but even if they do, will they be able to escape each other and anything they bring back with them?
I have to say right off the bat that there are few collaborations that are as serendipitous as this one here and you have to include Tom in that, don’t underestimate the power of how words are presented. In my eye this has a very almost classic style to it that mixes the ethereal and the exotic nature of space in a Sci-Fi/Horror story. Yes it feels familiar because we all have seen this scenario and by that I mean space exploration gone wrong but these guys know how to leave it at feeling and turn it into something new, fresh and exciting.
There is a lot to like here and it feels like we’re being thrown into this well established reality where hitting the asteroid belt dropping of spider like drones to wonder and record everything about it can is kind of spectacular. By not bothering to give us background information on the year the whole state of our planet and just focusing on what’s happening here is sensational to me. It feels natural not contrived or forced upon me it just is and that’s that so let’s focus on the crew and what appears to be their job. Notice I said job not mission because from the dialogue here and the description above this is work nowadays. Spendings week roaming space and placing these drone things it’s cool, interesting, boring and stressful and all of that is in these pages.
Steve is a master storyteller in my humble opinion and the way he’s able to structure this story and keep it moving forward and giving us just enough characterisation to intrigue but not make decisive is fantastic. I like the characters of this crew they seem to work well together, not quite family but comfortable with each other. No one stands out as the villain or bad guy type here and I find that aspect fascinating right now. So the room for development here is limitless and it feels like that when or if someone dies here we’re gonna feel the impact of that.
Nat does some amazing work here as well. His style exudes feeling and atmosphere at every turn. The lighting from the monitors and the almost eerie glow they give off wow that’s creepy and incredible at the same time. The faces, facial expression and the subtle way he works detail into this has this sublime affect that you barely notice because it’s not overt. The way page layouts are utilised and how we see the angles and perspective here is so hauntingly beautiful and his eye for storytelling has never been stronger. While I am a big advocate for utilising backgrounds this style and how we see it I wouldn’t change a damn thing about it.
I am impressed too with Tom’s lettering and I believe this is the first time I am talking about a letter in my review. From the way he is able to have it come across on the page brings that whole dichotomy of hard and soft, usually talked about in fashion, so it doesn’t feel like it was placed there it feels like it belongs. Also I like the varying uses in how we here voices so kudos.
This is now, it’s fresh, current, interesting and not only introduces this series but has created the kind of tension and anxiety that makes the reader lick their lips in anticipation.
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