Oni Press 2017
Written by Paul Tobin
Illustrated by Arjuna Susini
Coloured by Gonzalo Duarte
Lettered by Saida Temofonte
Oh sweet baby you know who I wanna have Paul’s baby and I don't think that’s physically possible but I’m willing to try. What I’m saying is that the man is effin brilliant and this first issue took me there and left me there. This is why I avoid Previews and any kind of spoilers telling me what a books about before reading it. I know the general public doesn’t have access to the books like I do so they have to be more picky, choosy and kind of know going in what something’s about, hence the review.. I am here to tell you that anytime you see Paul’s name on a book don’t think twice, don’t hesitate just pick it up and take it home because you won’t be disappointed.
I was amazed at how the book begins. The narration of the events that occur as we see them are amazingly unique. I say that with all sincerity because you have never seen an opening like this one before ever. It’s the kind of stuff that happens in movies sure or what people think happens in the jungles of some far away land constantly at war. It’s bloody as all hell and it’s more fascinating than staring at a train wreck of any kind. I honestly had no idea what this was going to be about and so as I kept going from page to page I was constantly thrilled and amazed by what I was seeing.
We get this amazing play by play from the perspective of a victim here. One who has no clue how or why this happening to begin with and it plays out giving us all this drama and intrigue that hopefully sets the stage for what’s to come. We do learn who the main character is and her background and how the book gets its name so there’s that. Actually I’m pretty impressed with the sheer amount of story that is in these pages. I think someone bottled up how to perfectly put more story in a smaller page count and sold it. This so epitomises how and why the art of storytelling has the power, impact and influence that it does over people.
This is the debut of Arjuna for me I wasn’t familiar with their work before now. Which is something I am definitely going to have to rectify by seeking out previous stuff. The linework has a perfect “weight” to it and flows from delicate to hard with apparent ease. The attention to detail here has me thrilled as do the utilisation of backgrounds to really help tell the bigger picture. The way layouts on the page are highlighted through angles and perspective are extremely well done. There’s and ambiance about what we see here that really helps you get in touch with the story at hand. Plus we get these raw emotions and feelings from everything in ways that seasoned teams usually accomplish.
I really liked the way that Paul decided to take this story. It should be unexpected really as it the premise is kind all too “now.” Also the fact that he furthers that by one step also seems pretty natural to me as it’s usually the quiet ones you have to be more wary of. Plus it’s just another way of keeping the legend alive and put into a frame of reference that is more malleable for one own unique storytelling. Paul does this with such ease that you’d never know there wasn’t a book by his side with story ideas just waiting for him to tell.
The assembled cast of characters, at least the ones we are introduced to here are eclectic, interesting and make up something for more intriguing verging on the sinister than I was prepared for. Also that Jutte, our lead character, has ties to people who’s business it is to skirt the law in various “business” opportunities, yeah mob,gangster or whatever modern term you would like to use, makes her even more intriguing to me than the opening started. I mean hell what Paul does is not only introduce her but kind of gives her this utterly amazing history that we only get the briefest of glimpses at which allows him to have a lot of room for fleshing her out over time.
If this is the beginning of a new franchise and the opening story arc is what we’re seeing then I’m one thousand percent all in. This is dynamic, crazy interesting and has a unique point of view that will leave as entertained as it does shocked by everything we see. This is what storytelling is supposed to be about.