Boom! Studios 2018
Written by Phillip Kennedy Johnson
Illustrated by Flaviano
Coloured by Miguel Muerto
Lettered by Jim Campbell
Following a brutal dust storm that drove them to seek shelter, the teens decide to venture out into the mysterious ghost town of Duster’s Wake to search for supplies...only to find that they are not alone.
There are some things that come along once in a while that takes you by surprise with the level of quality to the work that takes you by surprise. This is one of them as the first issue was brilliantly done to introduce us to this world and served every single purpose I could have wanted in a first issue and so much more. Phillip is doing such a great job with the pacing here so that in a five issue run he can manage to get every part of the story he feels is necessary to bring us. The structure of the book and how it flows never feels off or compromised in the slightest instead everything is as smooth as polished glass.
The opening here is sensational! The Deserters have taken refuge in the bus and someone comes along who has been sent to find the children. Mind you these children all have various reasons to have been going west but they are important enough and the evidence aside from their own introductions the fact that the bus wasn’t fully loaded should’ve been the first clue. So that someone has come looking for them, knew where the bus was and comes across as he does well colour me further intrigued.
When we see the kids next, I wish there was a who’s who involved in this book after all they don’t exactly call each by name so being able to identify them more readily would be nice, Ben’s sister is freaking out because she cannot find him. This is where we start learning a little bit more about the house, the kids and where they are. I found it rather interesting that the siblings have made up their own sign language while it isn’t as uncommon as people might think it’s still extremely interesting to see put to use here.
I really do like the characterisation here. Not one of these kids is a leader and each has their own flaws and to see them stumbling around in the dark is letting their insecurities run rampant. Yes even the self-proclaimed brainiac who wants to read the journals they found. His arrogance and self-worth are so over exaggerated he’s hiding something and if any of them weren’t to survive, he’d be the one I would miss least.
The interior artwork here is really very good. Flaviano and Miguel really manage to keep some of the youthful innocence and exuberance while simultaneously keeping things creepy as all get out. Oh the danger is all too real as well and I have to say it all works extremely well and captivates the reader beautifully. The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels shows off a solid eye for storytelling. That we see backgrounds being utilised as often as they are makes me a very happy reader as they really do expand the moment and give us a sense of size and scope to the story. Also I really how well the linework is used to really bring the characters to life with their faces and facial expressions.
The introduction of new characters lead to the reveal of new aspects of Custer’s Wake, or Duster’s Wake as it’s been rechristened. This town is weird and we kind of learn about why that is but we’ll need more information for that to make sense and it seems that between three experiences we might be able to piece the truth together. As secrets grow and experiences change perspectives this story becomes much more complex and layered.
A seriously good solid book with great writing and interior artwork set this apart and make it become something unique and thrilling.