Valiant Entertainment 2015
Written by Joshua Dysart
Penciled by Scot Eaton
Inked by Wayne Faucher & Sean Parson
Epilogue Art by CAFU
Coloured by Brain Reber
During the chaotic escape from Leviathan, an uncontrolled burst of Harada’s power blew a massive breach in the hull. Pulled out into the ocean, Harada encountered the inexplicable. Divinity, the Soviet cosmonaut who returned from decades in deep space imbued with god-like power, appeared before Harada. With his mastery over time and space, Divinity knew what was about to happen--Harada would soon seek him out for his team. Ane when Divinity granted each of Harada’s followers their deepest happiness, Harada would still reject this compromise and stand against Divinity. Unwilling to be pursued, attacked, or conscripted, Divinity pulled Harada out of time, jumbling past, present and future into a puzzle beyond Harada’s powers. But Harada studied Divinity and devised a plan to beat him.
I love that Divinity just wants to be left alone. Harada on the other hand doesn’t respect anyone’s wishes but his own so that it takes him this long to leave him be well that’s still character defining. Joshua has managed to really blur the line and then pull back into focus here with Harada and the kind of man he is. No different than any other zealot willing to do whatever it takes to achieve his goals. His single minded purpose and self-proclaimed savior of mankind doesn’t take into consideration those he’s trying to save since he knows better than anyone else alive or dead.
His arrogance knows no bounds and that repeatedly he has to return time and again to face Divinity only to be brushed back and still not learning his lesson well that’s illuminating. I thought for a moment when Harada felt he had mastered the mind of Divinity that he had actually done it. However seeing the same scenarios unfold again for only Harada to experience was brilliantly done. It’s the definition of insanity to keep doing the same thing over and over again and expect a different outcome.
The interior artwork here is pretty darn amazing. I mean we do see scenes replaying themselves and looking the same as they did the first time with subtle differences mainly in Harada. Also the life and expressions we’re getting from Morris Kozol whom we love to hate has been spectacular. The way they bring Sunlight on Snow to life and his movements and actions make him so much more than just a compassionate robot. Plus Lord Vine-99 yeah he’s this xenomorph-esque creature and he does bring so much darkness that it’s impossible not to scrutinize his appearance.
The stunning amount of characterization we get out of Joshua is one of those things that make this book consistently a must read. I mean when Gravedog has his explanation of what he’ll have to go through to leave only to be interrupted by Angela yeah those are moments you don’t forget. The dialogue is so revealing and it kind of makes you excited to see more of these folks now that they have more freedom to be as they want to be working under Harada. Though how he plans to really control the being known as Angela is what i’m really looking forward to.
So much still has to be accounted for and the taking of the U.S.S. Bush among them will be something else to keep an eye on. Plus while i’ve called for Kozol to be killed off earlier in this story that he has somehow managed to stay alive and his own personality having become as monstrous as Harada’s in the process yeah that’s going to be a trainwreck to see unfold.
We’ve never seen the bad guys given this kind of attention and that Valiant isn’t shying away from it but embracing it is why we embrace them.