Aspen Comics 2019
By Siya Oum
Lettered by Dezi Sienty
| PREVIOUSLY |
Lola was finally reunited with her father, but like all things in The Wasteland, their reunion was cut short by the brutal survivalist realities of the apocalypse. Meanwhile in The Divide, the internal strife was no less vicious within their ranks, as an insurmountable rebellion led by Rega, a new leader amongst the despondent, spilled out into the town square…
Any book that is able to draw the reader in, make them feel or seethe with emotion is one that definitely needs to be on your reading list. What Siya is doing here what she has created in this incredibly unique version of life after the apocalypse is nothing short of miraculous. People on the surface some of whom yes are deformed from what happened and others are not. The people who weren't so lucky to be living underground, or is that lucky they weren't?, are rebuilding in their own tribes, having and raising children and crops. Life will find a way after all.
This issue we get to see a fair bit of what's happening underground and it's not pretty. I do not understand why when there is a tale such as this we need a character who is so repulsive, so without morals, feelings and understanding. Why can't Rega just be a woman scorned instead of this repulsive creature who wishes nothing more than to kill, destroy and be seen as a God? She has no real knowledge of what is happening in the world, she only knows what wants and that's bloodthirsty revenge for something that there is no cause for. The fact that she is soulless and reprehensible beyond belief is something of a marvel. After all to be able to write such a character, so convincingly as to enrage the reader wishing they could be there to experience the joy of silencing her once and for all is exceptional.
The story & plot development that we see within these page with how we learn what is happening in the release of information exceeds my expectations. The character development is astonishingly strong, well thought out and executed sot that we see these people for who they are and why they do what they do. Factoring in the pacing and the twists, turns and revelations come at you from all angles creating one heck of an ebb & flow for the story. Pieces are beginning to fall into place and the best laid plans of mice and men will be upon them soon.
The interiors here are utterly gorgeous! The linework is fabulous and the way that they make way for the watercolour's is sensational to see. The attention to detail here is phenomenal and how we see faces, facial expressions and body language throughout the book serve to give the characterisation that little extra that words alone cannot convey. The backgrounds we see are wonderfully done and even if they are simply brush stokes of colour representing trees or whatnot it all seems to work in concert with each other beautifully. The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels shows a great eye for storytelling. The sense of scale could be a tad better but who's to complain about that.
While I doubt that this will end with the next few issues but this is the pivotal arc that will lead into the next one that could quite possible determine the fate of this world and those who live in it. Can Lola do what she's out to do, again?, or will lady luck be somewhere else on this fateful day? Can Isaac and Mike come to an understanding before it's too late or will Rega be able to follow through with her demented plans for the Wastelands? Siya has made this all kinds of interesting, exciting and with so many different layers in play everywhere you look there's bound to be something new to gaze upon and marvel.