Image Comics/Top Cow Productions 2018
Written by Singgih Nugroho & Ryan Cady
Illustrated by Sami Basri
Coloured by Sunny Gho
Lettered by Jaka Ady
Folke finally accepts his fate and begins his new life with Ghaergos and goes all-out to make the world a better place by their standards. Meanwhile, Seraphim has finally found a perfect host who’s unexpectedly going to give it a very hard time.
I have been taken with the idea behind this since day one and it surprises me that we’re only at issue three because it feels like it’s much longer. I like that actually because it says something about the writing and the connection it has to the reader. With a strong premise and so mighty fine story and plot development alongside some characterisation the reader can relate to even through a huge leap in belief along the science fiction line.
The idea that visitors from another planet have come to earth to bond with humans to save their lives and enhance the lives of humans well it seems to good to be true. But then again humans are easily deceived when being promised knowledge, power and enhancements to their lives as they accept much too easily without really looking at the consequences. This story shows us how some of those look at the consequences and have decided to do something about it. I like that we see Folke and his sister’s point of view and how Seraphim is there to prevent Ghaergos from doing irreparable harm.
I love the opening because it’s commanding and dramatic and in the end as deadly as it comes. While I am usually not a fan of the time warp, it’s just a step to the right with your hands on your hips, style of storytelling however it seems it is kind of essential here. I like that it gives us the chance to see how the siblings react to one another and how they see the path the other is on as being the wrong one. Folke is definitely treading water and searching for revenge so he really isn’t thinking what he’s about to do more fully. He might claim to be smart and in control but obviously to my eye he isn’t. This kind of characterisation is why we connect because we all know how that someone who is so close to you that you can almost speak without words.
I am really enjoying the interior artwork here. The style is unlike most we’ve ever seen as from my point of view it’s anime and Patrick Nagel had a baby. I find it beyond fascinating, sexy and eye catching in ways you’d never expect. The way that page layouts are utilised and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels shows a solid eye for storytelling. I do not like that we see next to no backgrounds in use here I believe they expand the story. While seeing Seraphim like we do that’s cool as he’s more ghostly unless it’s children or their intended and the representation of him is extremely well done.
As the story plays out and we see where the focus has strongly shifted to we being to see more and more of how this may end up going. This issue ups the level of storytelling creates this great amount of tension about the decisions that have to be made. Realisations of plans, plots and all kind of interesting power plays are going to come about and we’ll have a first row seat for that. I cannot wait to see how next issue starts to bring things ever closer to it’s climactic conclusion.