
Vault Comics 2019
Written by Michael Moreci & Gary Dauberman
Illustrated by Zak Hartong
Coloured by Addison Duke
Lettered by Jim Campbell
Andre and his mysterious companion dig deeper into Andre’s frame-up—and deeper into the Mall’s nefarious history. Meanwhile, on the surface, factions collide. All-out war is on the horizon. But maybe that’s what someone is hoping for?
I am still wondering where these folks are getting their food from. I dunno why I am stuck on this point but for this many people to still be alive and these various groups there's got to be some farming done somewhere. Also when are we going to see a map of the mall? It feels like this place is huge considering how many factions there are. The guys have a great solid premise there is no denying that. It is just the practical side of my brain wants some answers to some simple seeming innocent questions.
My personal cravings aside, the way that this is being is pretty marvellous. The opening this issue introduces us to Andre's Pop and it's rather something to see. It certainly took me by surprise and I have to say that bringing us something we never expect to see is and constantly keeping the reader on their toes is what keeps us coming back time and time again. At least here in this place they take time to actually dress in normal clothing it's really nice to see. Speaking of Andre, his travelling companion still remaining a mystery is one aspect that I don't think should change.
The way we see the story & plot development and how the information and revelations are brought to the readers attention is so well done. With the character development and the dialogue fleshing the characters out like it does we really do start getting a better sense of who they are. When the pacing picks this all up and moves the story forward and reveals all the twists and turns including the introduction to new characters is incredibly well done. The ebb & flow that is created by all this really takes the reader on quite the journey. I like it and the feeling of being both closed in and claustrophobic as well as feeling as if there is all the room in the world if you know where to go makes for and interesting dichotomy.
The interior artwork here has this really great style to it as the linework and colour work together in such a way that find this way to really accentuate the story. We have to include the lettering at this point as well since I feel it's a big part of this with all the noises we see being made so that the tension of the unknown that they run from or end up fighting is heightened. The creativity and imagination that we see here is friggin amazing and I especially like the new underground humans that we see emerge this issue as well. The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show off a stellar eye for storytelling. While I would like to see more backgrounds being utilised we get what we get. The colour work is nice though a bit more solid and packed in than I expected but again it all works, it's just me that wished we see the red lights and the tones and hues that could've been.
All my wishes aside the way this is being told is really well done. It has this creepy vibe to it and while the clans are being pitted against other, manipulated but by whom?, and Andre is running through parts unknown of the Mall things keep getting more and more dangerous and interesting. I'm dying to see what's next and who and how this whole thing is going to continue to play out. Vault continues to put out some of today's most unexpectedly interesting books.