Image Comics 2015
Written by Warren Ellis
Illustrated by Declan Shalvey
Coloured by Jordie Bellaire
Wow this series just keeps rocketing along. Finally we get to learn where the series gets it’s name from. How each of them contributed to it and ultimately why they each left to be on their own. It’s not even the calm before the storm since this storm is a hurricane and the edges of it have lapped up against them now. Still that we get sneak peeks at what it was like when they were more idealistic and naive in creating the Injection well it’s like the puzzle pieces keep falling into place. I do also like the idea that they get tattoos to commemorate their achievment.
Maria’s on her own again and she’s going after something well disturbing and unique. This is a prime example why I enjoy Declan’s work. It’s fantastic and his imagination is delightful to see come to life. Plus what Maria has at her disposal to help her well it is an infusion of science and magic and it works on the first men she meets. Before she moves on we get a nice interlude where Brigid and Rob.
This goes a long way in explaining a few things. That and well the man Maria encounters explains a whole lot more. Gotta love the Archeologist she encounters! Naked and covered in whatever this green glowing stuff is i’m thrilled beyond belief what the encounter does to her. It’s fantastic, revealing and incredibly psychological in nature and it’s just too dang good. Plus the whole entity she has to listen to and deal with well that’s the kind of thing that can’t possibly expect to have resulted in what the team was involved with. Even with this issue’s revelations it’s hard to imagine that this could be the ongoing effect.
There’s so much information being presented this issue and in such matter of fact yet dynamic ways. From the code to the Injection itself to what they’ve done has evolved into and then the final segment is what impressed me the most. Wayland the Smith and the Cunning-Man have this in-depth conversation and honestly it was probably some of the most revealing this whole issue. So he’s a Cunning-Man and not a Wizard heh yeah it’s all semantics where Rob is concerned but it’s still some of the most fun characterization i’ve seen yet in this series.
Oh and again you’ve got to hand it to Declan for the way this whole last segment is presented to us. The softness of Rob and the almost illusionary Smith talking together belies the seriousness of their talk. The whole thing has been done for maximum impact and it’s just smashing well done.
Every issue of this series that comes out just seems to get me deeper and deeper into this world and these characters. What’s gone from interesting and how’d that happen has come to what have they done and how are they are going to undo it? The transition is seeming instant and the writing here is flawless in that regard. Warren’s just created and crafted another thrilling book that engages the reader and with Declan along for the ride this is one of those that screams out to be read.