Freelance #4
Chapterhouse Comics 2017
Written by Jim Zub & Andrew Wheeler
Illustrated by Vaneda Vireak & Cindy Leong
Lettered by Andrew Thomas
HIS ORIGINS AND PAST A MYSTERY, SUPERHUMAN LANCE VALIANT TRAVELS THE GLOBE, PROTECTING THE WORLD FROM THREATS ALONGSIDE HIS COMPANIONS JOHN CABOT AND TASHA KOLCHAK! JOHN HAS BEEN KIDNAPPED—TAKEN PRISONER BY THE SINISTER APOLLYON IN HER MAD QUEST FOR POWER. APOLLYON TORTURES HIM IN AN ATTEMPT TO REACH HER TRUE TARGET, LANCE, BUT JOHN REFUSES TO GIVE UP HIS COMPANION. LANCE AND TASHA ARE HOT IN PURSUIT, TRACKING APOLLYON TO THE CITY OF PRIPYAT, JUST AS APOLLYON ACTIVATES THE DEADLY BREACH KEY AND CREATES A PORTAL TO ANOTHER WORLD. LANCE AND TASHA SPRING TO ACTION, BUT NOT BEFORE WHISPER—APOLLYON’S FOLLOWER AND TAHSA’S MOTHER—APPEARS WITH A KNIFE TO JOHN’S THROAT, ORDERING THE HEROES TO STAND DOWN.
I like that we end this arc, season or what have you this way. Lance only has the slightest of clues as to who he is and where he comes from and those come from Apollyon and she’s a less than reputable source. Why rush it? I personally thought the absolute best part of this issue comes towards the end when Lance needs John to be his anchor and how that goes down, saying what kind of person he is and wants to be is far better than anything his past may or may not hold.
Having said that, see above paragraph, what Apollyon does say about his past does bring up some interesting possibilities. Not about the rift and how that place corrupts because we know it does that. No about who he is, where he comes from and how he could possibly the last of his kind. Something to keep exploring as different seasons continue to give us more clues, hint hint.
I really like the way the pages are used here as panels may have action in them but as a whole page you see backgrounds in use to really make things visually stunning. The way that the layouts utilise the angles and perspective are very well done. Yes the work has a more all-ages quality to it than i’d normally gravitate towards but it isn’t bad it’s got a Manga/Anime feel to the work and it has it’s moments to really shine.
Also really enjoying how this book and not just Lance get some much needed attention. Seeing Tasha and her mother’s interaction was some great characterisation as well. Plus it’s just so nice to see how a homosexual couple can be written in comics without all this hooplah or fanfare about it. When John was going to go too far or when Lance needed him to be there for him because of what he went through you see the connection the two men have. It’s strong, beautifully written and something that just is.
2017 has seen the rise of books and companies with high quality offerings. With a solid premise, nice story development and stellar characterisation alongside some interesting and thoughtful interior artwork Freelance is one of those that you need to make sure is in your subscription services.
Chapterhouse Comics 2017
Written by Jim Zub & Andrew Wheeler
Illustrated by Vaneda Vireak & Cindy Leong
Lettered by Andrew Thomas
HIS ORIGINS AND PAST A MYSTERY, SUPERHUMAN LANCE VALIANT TRAVELS THE GLOBE, PROTECTING THE WORLD FROM THREATS ALONGSIDE HIS COMPANIONS JOHN CABOT AND TASHA KOLCHAK! JOHN HAS BEEN KIDNAPPED—TAKEN PRISONER BY THE SINISTER APOLLYON IN HER MAD QUEST FOR POWER. APOLLYON TORTURES HIM IN AN ATTEMPT TO REACH HER TRUE TARGET, LANCE, BUT JOHN REFUSES TO GIVE UP HIS COMPANION. LANCE AND TASHA ARE HOT IN PURSUIT, TRACKING APOLLYON TO THE CITY OF PRIPYAT, JUST AS APOLLYON ACTIVATES THE DEADLY BREACH KEY AND CREATES A PORTAL TO ANOTHER WORLD. LANCE AND TASHA SPRING TO ACTION, BUT NOT BEFORE WHISPER—APOLLYON’S FOLLOWER AND TAHSA’S MOTHER—APPEARS WITH A KNIFE TO JOHN’S THROAT, ORDERING THE HEROES TO STAND DOWN.
I like that we end this arc, season or what have you this way. Lance only has the slightest of clues as to who he is and where he comes from and those come from Apollyon and she’s a less than reputable source. Why rush it? I personally thought the absolute best part of this issue comes towards the end when Lance needs John to be his anchor and how that goes down, saying what kind of person he is and wants to be is far better than anything his past may or may not hold.
Having said that, see above paragraph, what Apollyon does say about his past does bring up some interesting possibilities. Not about the rift and how that place corrupts because we know it does that. No about who he is, where he comes from and how he could possibly the last of his kind. Something to keep exploring as different seasons continue to give us more clues, hint hint.
I really like the way the pages are used here as panels may have action in them but as a whole page you see backgrounds in use to really make things visually stunning. The way that the layouts utilise the angles and perspective are very well done. Yes the work has a more all-ages quality to it than i’d normally gravitate towards but it isn’t bad it’s got a Manga/Anime feel to the work and it has it’s moments to really shine.
Also really enjoying how this book and not just Lance get some much needed attention. Seeing Tasha and her mother’s interaction was some great characterisation as well. Plus it’s just so nice to see how a homosexual couple can be written in comics without all this hooplah or fanfare about it. When John was going to go too far or when Lance needed him to be there for him because of what he went through you see the connection the two men have. It’s strong, beautifully written and something that just is.
2017 has seen the rise of books and companies with high quality offerings. With a solid premise, nice story development and stellar characterisation alongside some interesting and thoughtful interior artwork Freelance is one of those that you need to make sure is in your subscription services.
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