Boom! Studios 2017
Created & Written by Matt Kindt
Created & Illustrated by Tyler Jenkins
Lettered by Jim Campbell
What is it about Matt that makes us automatically read whatever it is he writes? He’s one of the most prolific writers today and I can honestly say that i’ve yet to read something from him that’s just not interesting. This one is a little different from the rest and that in itself is cause for celebration because I honestly thought that perhaps this was going to be something else entirely. I mean at first I thought this might focus on the indigenous people of the land then perhaps it’s about the lake and that maybe there’s some kind of supernatural thing about it and the geography.
I love that it took as long as it does to kind of figure out what the story was going to focus on and even now i’m not entirely sure I know. I mean it seems like we’re seeing a version of a town that is off the grid, survivalist or some kind of illegal commune ya know the kind where they squat claim the land is theirs and don’t pay the government taxes or anything. So basically they are the kind of folks that we want to read about because the drama surrounding them is off the charts.
I do like the way this issue is structured. From the get go it really takes us on a journey and one where we get this whole unexpected introduction. I have to say that when we get to the kid who is this kind of surly know it all trespasser part things really got amped up a bit. I may not entirely know what is going on with it but I do know that I can’t wait to keep on reading and find out. I mean I think there’s a mystery to be solved a missing person to find and a few other incidentals.
I like the interiors here and the whole watercolour quality of what we see. There’s a really nice sense of detail and yet it’s still has that open feel to it. The work that Tyler does here really draws you in and captures the mind and imagination beautifully. His use of page layouts with the angles, perspective and use of backgrounds really makes the story come alive and flow.
With an introduction to an extremely colourful cast of characters that gives us this promise of the unexpected to follow this once again reaffirms why Matt is one of today’s premiere storytellers. Seriously with no real idea what’s happening and just following the clues to what we see here i’m hooked and need to know more. It’s like a drug you get a taste and suddenly you need more.