IDW Publishing 2016
Written by Mark Waid
Illustrated by Peter Krause
Coloured by Nolan Woodard
Lettered by Troy Peteri
Nocturnus and his son Galahad were crime-fighting partners until a generational rift fractured the team and sent them off in different directions. Nocturnus became reclusive and shadowy, while Galahad became a millionaire celebrity. Now, however, a threat to their home city has forced them to team up one last time to save both St. Barrington and their friend, Meg...
Well father and son may be at odds but there’s one thing they both agree on, okay two, that they need to protect the city and rescue Meg. Can they finally put aside their differences and do what needs doing or will their egos get in the way allowing the bad guys to win once and for all?
I really do like the characterisation that’s going on here. While they may have completely different views one things for certain since all this began and that’s that Galahad still trusts Nocturnus and his plans. Maybe there is hope after all for two men cut from the same cloth to come together and heal old wounds after all the bonds of family are the strangest ones around. Also it’s nice to see that sometimes old habits die hard as well which is what makes those bonds strain, kind of like an elastic band that you hope doesn’t snap in two.
I love the work Peter and Nolan are doing on the interiors. The use of page layouts through angles, perspective and those backgrounds all filled with that incredible attention to detail really bring the heightened sense of drama, emotion and action to life beautifully. The facial expressions and body language here do as much for the characterisation as Mark’s words do and that’s the sign of a strong partnership.
I like that even in the moments where there isn’t any action happening the story is advancing nicely. The pacing of this is so strong and demonstrates why Mark has maintained his status as a premiere storyteller for so long. The set up for what’s coming next is extremely well done and the drama it leaves you with, that anticipation is electric. Also that we see just as much with Mr. Malvolia as we do only serves to strengthen the dire straits that the Meg is in and the conflict that is inevitable.
This is all around one of the strongest series that I’ve seen in terms of how the storytelling has been through words and pictures. The complete look at the characters and their motivations and differences not only highlight how they operate but show us their reasoning behind them. Mark and Peter have created a very strong new universe where the heroes and villains don’t always behave the way we expect and yet are just as thrilling and adventurous as it can possibly be.