Image Comics 2016
Written, Coloured & Lettered by Nathan Fairbairn
Illustrated by Matt Smith
Well the group went out after the creatures and find themselves in the ship that crash landed on Earth. It’s kind of what we’ve been waiting for actually seeing how these men and woman deal with being inside an alien space ship, not knowing what it truly is, and encountering these creatures on it’s own turf.
What Nathan manages to do here is infuse all the classic outer space horror movie elements into this to make it thrilling for readers. The dark corridors of a dead ship full of creatures and the men carrying weapons of wood steel against them there’s an electricity to the idea that shines through here. The blending of the world’s are done so well and while part of that is because of the clever writing it’s equally due to Matt’s interiors as well. The sheer contrast in man vs beast that we see is so well done.
I really do like what Matt does with these interiors as well. Showing the hallways that lead to the nerve center to the ship’s engine it all has this progression that keeps getting more and more alien compared to the era in which this story takes place. The way he’s able to give these characters such individuality and show emotion and strain on their faces is wonderful to see. The flow through page layouts with the use of angles, perspective and even the backgrounds really help tell the whole story.
I still can’t believe that man hasn’t died yet and has the gall to follow the group and still think his righteousness will serve him well. I want this man to die already and that’s usually the one who lives through all this and will proclaim it was his faith that decreed he live. Trying to elevate himself to near godlike or at least god favoured status. Still we all need that one person we love to hate right?
What we see and learn this issue is as much a result of the combination of words and pictures. They are so in sync with each other that they indeed are able to convey the true scope of what’s happened and still happening here. The implications are astounding and the level of what we see and learn really light that fire of understanding and excitement inside you. The level of sheer action/adventure and horror of what we see and the cast experience will leave you on the edge of your seat panting and wanting to see what’s next.
The level of storytelling here with it’s characterisation and plot/story advancement has been a truly wonderful thing to see. The moment that we see when one cannot go forward and how that’s handled well it’s surprisingly tender and understanding amidst all this and you forget that sometimes a calm head and cool hand are what’s needed. That Nathan can put moments like that into the madness surrounding them is the sign of a very talented writer.
This is far and away one of the most exciting, fresh and different takes on a horror style genre that will blow you away.