Skybound/Image Comics 2019
Written by Brandon Thomas
Illustrated by Francis Portela
Coloured by Leonardo Paciarotti
Lettered by Thomas Mauer
With Hardcore tech in the hands of terrorists, Agent Drake must make a deal with America’s Most Wanted before more innocents die. Clock’s ticking…
Considering we are only two issues in so far here's what I have noticed, that while the first arc beautifully introduced us the concept this second arc is far an away better than the first. There is an excitement and a pulse pounding that comes with this one that has upped the ante as it were and it creates this tension that reader feels in their shoulders. I love that feeling because to me it says that I am engaged and invested in the franchise.
The way that this is being told is thrilling. The story & plot development that we see through how the sequence of events unfold and how the reader learns information is really extremely well done. From the get-go here the way we see things happen there is a bit of mystery and intrigue happening that makes you think. What are we seeing? Who's responsible for what's happening? Is this all a part of the folks who hi-jacked the program? All the questions means that I am engaged as all get out in this and that I have to utilise my mind just showcases how effectively Brandon's talent and ability is on display.
The character development is phenomenal to see. Drake and Markus yeah love em and/or hate em it doesn't really matter because they are the story. Courtney and that twat knot yeah he annoys me but that's okay we're not supposed to like everyone. The pacing is fantastic and as it takes through the pages and reveals the twists and turns keep the reader riveted to the page throughout. The way this is structured and how we see the ebb & flow through all the elements is utterly fantastic.
So the idea of jumping people sounds a lot what happens when you hear about ghosts jumping the living. The premise to me sounds like its about the same thing. So yeah that's something that drew me in and then how the first arc ended I was like oh my goodness hurry up because I need to know what's going on. Nowadays it is harder than you expect to create something completely original that you cannot compare to anything else and these guys have done just that. It is fresh, now and just on the edge of technologically believable that it takes on this horror element, it's scary to think this could happen.
Franics is one of the unsung heroes within the industry when it comes to his work. The man has this amazing eye for storytelling and how he can utilise backgrounds and make them integral to the story and how the work within the composition inside the panels is stupendous. This brings the depth perception, scale and overall sense of size and scope to the readers' eye without them even realising it. The linework is exquisitely laid down and how the varying weights are utilised to bring the focus to this level and quality of attention to detail is superb. The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels is so well done. The colour work is gorgeous! I am loving how we see the colours and the various hues and tones within them utilised to create the shading, highlights and shadow work. It really impressive to the point where this is the kind of work you appreciate without really thinking about it. It is just assumed that the colours are the way they are but the detail and understanding that we see of how colour works is truly impressive.
The originality, the creativity and imagination that we see in every aspect of this book is what makes it stand out in the crowd. The level of work and talent that we is why these creators are those we seek out time and time again.