Scout Comics 2017
Written by Massimo Rosi
Illustrated by Gabriel Ibarra Nunez
Coloured by Marco Pagnotta
Lettered by Mattia Gentili
The San Andreas Fault finally has "the Big One," but not from natural occurrences. From the depths of the fault something emerges. Something of myth and legend that was mentioned in hushed tone by every ancient culture - giants, huge creatures from another time, awakened from the slumber and seeking to resume their conquest that has been delayed for a millennium. To mount a counteroffensive, the US government creates super-humans with an experimental serum. These four individuals may be the last chance for humanity as they are all the stands between civilization and the Giants!
I have a hard time getting Scout comics and that’s a horrible thing to say because I love what they put out, I have to read a bad book from them. So when Massimo asked me to review this I was more than happy to do so. Honestly not knowing anything about it probably helped too because as you read the book there’s a lot going on that makes your mind work. You can’t just skim this you really have to read it because you need to absorb what’s being said.
That being said the characterisation here is phenomenal and I like how we get to see the characters behave making them very familiar and realistic to me as a reader. It’s not surprising how quickly Massimo gets you to into and invested in this story. From it’s visual open without narration or words which draw you in to the revelations of what is happening and how some characters take the opportunity to reveal what they’ve been doing in search of recognition and well is a suck up trying to curry favour with those in power to elevate their position.
The stunning characterisation, plot and story development here is amazing to see unfold with each turn of the page. This is the beginning of a world with beings of power that they’ve never seen before. Some from the depths of the Earth living legends or myths like Cryptids others made in a laboratory from the minds of men playing god. Either way this changes the world and I’m not sure its for the better. Having this thrust upon them like it is without real testing or knowing anything concrete this is going to be one hell of a ride as it plays out.
I love the interiors here while they may not be the immensely detailed stuff that I gravitate towards it has this really nice unique quality to it that is beautiful to see. The linework alongside the colouring here has the ability to mesmerise the reader with it’s subtlety and it’s intensity. The flow of the book through the visuals and how it’s used to introduce the book through the page layouts with their angles and perspective are solidly done. The way backgrounds are utilised expand the story and bring the reader further in.
Sometimes you come across a story that you aren’t expecting and it hits you in ways you are prepared for. Massimo does that to me here he starts a story that isn’t what you’d expect, see actions that are shocking, amazing and terrifying. Peppered in is some of the most amazing storytelling with it’s plot development and characterisation to create something unique, special and an all around amazing first issue.
Scout Comics is one of the most underrated company’s that needs to be seen, read and have more people exposed to what they do. Order this from your dealer, shoppe or subscription service.