Archaia/Boom Studios 2015
Created by Alyssa Milano
Written by Collin Kelly & Jackson Lanzing
Illustrated by Marcus To
Coloured by Ian Herring & Becka Kenzi
First of all Marcus is an amazing artist and that should go without saying. But for whatever his work on this really is exceptional i love the “normal” people how handsome/beautiful he makes them and they seem natural not the hero body structure but everyday folks. The backgrounds and attention to detail here is pretty darn nice. I love the colour use in this issue too as we see some in full colour and others in this blue wash with the red tones which demonstrates the danger or urgency of the events unfolding.
I’m still of a fan of this whole concept and kudos to Alyssa for coming up with it and honestly this is the kind of thing that to me would work right there up against Mr. Robot on USA Network, it has everything you want. High tech sabotage and intrigue with likeable and despicable characters who are being fleshed out extremely well. Even a misunderstood fella who ran into hiding only to emerge six months later, now, to resume his life.
That we open with a character emerging from what looks like an underground bunker, in the old days I would have said bomb shelter, and using his phone to set something in motion. Very quickly I believe we see what that is and these are not folks used to being bullied or threatened and they want to strike back. Since these folks have jobs that are shall we say some are high ranking or well publicized they have the NSA, FBI and the CIA ya know all those agencies with the letters they wanna know what’s happening.
Graft may be in charge of Vigil right now and they all think Ed’s back and doing this, maybe he is maybe he isn’t we’ll not know for sure and that’s part of the beauty of this story. That two page spread, 10-11, is remarkable really well done Marcus. Then to see Ori who after the first arc is a convict now in front of a committee being grilled again yeah that’s good stuff too it’s nice to see these men who think they are in control and have power humbled to the point of being made pretty much redundant. Our government really does need a major overhaul and get these old power hungry and greedy old folk out but that’s my rant.
The meeting and conversation between Ed and Graft yeah that’s something you have to experience, read and I don’t mean skim I mean pay attention, for yourself to fully kind of grasp what is being said. There’s a movement in the country that isn’t happy and more than ready to step up and finish what others have started in their own fashion. Also as they are talking the actions we witness and how this book ends well if that’s not enough to grab your attention and leave you with the desire for learning more well then a thinking man’s comic isn’t for you. This is bloody brilliant stuff and it’s exciting, intriguing and full of misdirection and action that could translate to a series on the small screen or make one heck of big screen series.
People if you aren’t familiar with Archaia a division of Boom Studios than you need to be this is why I love smaller press books the originality and passion you get from reading this is why I love the medium.