Reckless Eyeballs 2015
Written & Illustrated by Jack Foster
Lettered by Greg Sorkin
Fighting is my Monday
Remember when you were a kid and you thought you were going to be a rock star? Arena shows. Champagne. Thousands of people chanting your name... your life was going to be one long limo ride. Then you wake up one day and you're 30 and the limo never came. It's like that only I never wanted to be a rock star...
I wanted to take over the world...
Amateur bad guy, Trevor Werner, the sinister Mister Twist enters an uneasy alliance with two fellow criminal also-rans: bruised, beautiful Olive Armstrong and aging 60's super-radical, Agent Orange when the trio stumble upon the passed out body of a left-for-dead superhero. The plan is simple: ransom the hero at an underworld 'black auction' and split the take three ways. Of course, like all simple plans it goes murderously awry...
Oh I don't know why I waited so long to sit down and read this, though I am guessing a busy schedule with new release books and conventions might have played a part. Regardless here we are now and it's time to get to business. I have to say that I really enjoyed reading this. The concept is fantastic and the way that Jack moves us through the issue through how we see the sequence of events unfold and how the reader learns information really highlights the story and plot development here. With this level of writing and storytelling I am surprised this is the first thing I have read from Jack but then again I cannot wait to read more. The character development is great and I like that we see how these characters are already inherently flawed and broken and yet circumstances being what they are force them into old habits. The way they act and react to the situations and circumstances really flesh out who they are and it's utterly delightful. The pacing is incredible and as it takes us through the pages revealing the twists and turns along the way while working with everything aforementioned to create the books overall ebb & flow is sensational.
I am literally head over heels impressed with this issue. I found myself captivated from the start and as the story continues and we're pulled deeper and deeper in we become engaged as much as we are enthralled by the turn of events that occur. I like the point of view we see here, from the characters standpoint, is not unique but it is told in way that makes it feel fresh and new from what we have seen elsewhere.
The interiors are beautifully rendered. Hand painted makes a huge difference when we see how they are able to show the various hues and tones within the colours to create the shading, highlights, shadow work and mood or after effects, like smoking wafting, is mindbogglingly good. The linework is great and how we see the varying weights bring out this attention to detail is pretty damn sharp as well. Though watch the hands, make sure fingers are legible or knuckles at least and even through the flesh tones make some separations. The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show a marvellous eye for storytelling. All around that Jack does the writing and the interiors make me give him mad respect and I love that we see exactly what we should and what's intended.
Strangers coming together to pull a job, not friends, not enemies (at least not yet) mere acquaintances, can they work together to pull off this job or will their natural nature take over. Well you are going to have to read this find out but suffice to say that once you start you won't wanna stop!