Skybound/Image Comics 2017
Written by James Asmus, Joseph Keatinge, Chirstopher Sebela & Joshua Williamson
Illustrated by Joe Infurnari
Coloured by Jordan Boyd
Lettered by Pat Brosseau
Human evolution has taken millions of years to get to this stage. But next week, we become something new. Around the world, humanity is undergoing rapid and unpredictable changes, and only three individuals seem to notice that their world is being reborn. But what can they do about it?
So this is what they consider an oversized first issue me not so much it needs another 10-15 pages before I call it that. At first I thought this was going to be an anthology series considering how many of today’s strongest talent was involved in writing this. But it really is one cohesive story with three characters who have what I'm guessing a different writer. So not only is this going to be something through the eyes of multiple characters but each point of view is being seen through a different writer as well and while they all inhabit this world it’s incredible to see how natural each segment seems to flow into the next and how they all fit together.
So the best way to really tie everything together is get one artist to illustrated the entire thing and Joe does that extremely well. With Jordan colouring his work the pair make this whole thing fit together beautifully. I will say without hesitation that Joe’s eye for storytelling is glorious to see through his use of page layouts with their angles and perspective. Also that he can utilise backgrounds to expand the story and give us a fuller look at people, circumstances and allowing for more characterisation is superbly done. There’s something the boys do here that to be honest I wasn’t expecting and that’s the fact they brought a classic horror style to this book. It is highly reminiscent of the old horror comics that I couldn’t get enough of and that just makes so very happy.
Back to the story, I like how this whole book is structured. There is a surprisingly good ebb and flow to what we see here with so many writers involved, the communication must’ve been amazing. First up is Dr. Hurley and his actions that kind of open up the story are really odd, weird and intriguing. He sees a young boy, a patient, and discovers something new, different and it visibly freaks him out. It’s a great way to start the story off because we don’t know what’s going on and it’s kind of creepy but nothing that screams run at us, yet.
Meanwhile a world away in Roma Sister Hannah has her own experience that is quite disturbing. I would like to thank whomever wrote this one because the fact that she’s trying to communicate with a non-English speaking German and his German isn’t translated is marvellous. It means that we are as much in the dark as Sister Hannah and I found that to be incredibly important and much better than having that translation asterisk or box. I hope that we see similar treatment from other corners of the world. Also as a woman of god in Roma seeing what she is seeing well it gives her look and point of view a very interesting perspective.
Then there’s our adorable lesbian couple who happen to be cleaning out Claire’s parents house after they’ve passed on. How these two women find themselves wrapped up in all this will be fun to see play out. I like that they are an ordinary couple one who’s background involves old motion pictures and their odd memorabilia, think monster flicks and then it makes sense. Still what their perspective and what they have to offer will be unique as well and I look forward to seeing their part in all this.
Four very separate people in three very different parts of the world all experiencing something that connects them without them knowing. Well perhaps Dr. Hurley is more inclined to know but what all these creators do here is create something different, mysterious and not really dangerous but psychologically speaking creepy as all hell. Will their paths intersect or will we keeps seeing three very unique aspects play out as they will? Either way this is classic horror at it’s finest!