Berger Books 2019
Written by G. Willow Wilson
Illustrated by Christian Ward
Lettered by Sal Cipriano
Set in a far-flung star system, this new epic sci-fi monthly saga tells the tale of two women—a young religious acolyte and a hard-bitten freighter pilot—who separately uncover a vast conspiracy between the leader of the system's dominant religion and the mega-corporation that controls society. On the run from reprisals on both sides, this unlikely pair of rebels risk plunging the world into anarchy if they reveal the truth. But when your beliefs betray you, what choice is there left?
This my friends is a weird one and it’s the absolute best kind of weird you can imagine! First I love me a good science fiction story that happens in space where anything can happen. I mean there’s cool technology and alien species for cryin in the mud now! Add into that the fact that Christian is doing the interiors and you’ve got a killer combination in play. You know with Karen being behind this line it really is no surprise that I have yet to read a Berger Book that isn’t extremely professionally done. These are smart, interesting and complex stories that have great interior artwork and can make a huge impact on what folks read.
Willow really does know how to write a gripping tale regardless of it’s genre. I love her way with words in that she can keep the syntax & diction of the characters different based on what we read. I am one of those who kind of, okay absolutely does, give voices to the characters in an attempt to get to know them better so hence the syntax & diction reference. Yes I am a geek and uber nerd I suppose but hey we all have our own little quirks when it comes to diving into finding out how we figure the characters out.
The way that this is structured is beautifully done. It feels like there are two arcs running simultaneously that seem connected in some way shape or form….however it isn’t apparently time for us to know if/when they do merge. In the meantime both of the stories have their own unique mystery elements. Well I am thinking they do from what I am seeing and the way that Willow introduces us to these characters feels like it should, it has this natural feeling about it that we’re meeting the cast as they live their lives and not as if they’ve been thrown together for the sake of the story.
I love the work Christian does. The linework is gorgeous and how he’s able to use the varying weights to create this over-the-top spectacular attention to detail. I mean lines, no lines, colour used as lining it’s just hypnotic. Which leads into the colour work because this neon 80’s inspired world and how we see these folks, roads and walls demonstrate such a high skill level not to mention amazing eyes and vision. The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show that mega-good eye for storytelling. The way we see backgrounds being utilised so that they enhance the moments, subliminally advertise what we’ll see at some point, LUX anyone, and bring to life this sense of size and scope of the story beautifully.
The characterisation is really good and we get to see the good, bad and the ugly while their mysterious machinations which they all have planned in some form or another is sensed, hinted at but completely unknown is that hook a book usually needs. I mean now I want to know more than ever what the heck is going to happen next!
I am not quite sure how she’s done this but Willow has managed to create a book that thinkers will devour and those who just be entertained can get the same amount of satisfaction from this. Christian’s interiors well they just seal the deal to be honest.