Vault Comics 2018
Written by Deniz Camp
Illustrated by Vittorio Astone
Lettered by Aditya Bidikar
Max runs away from home! But what is he running from…and where to? And: A world held together by desire! A universe that is the rotting carcass of a Dead God! AND, because you demanded it, THE TRUTH ABOUT TIME!
Sweet mother of Pearl Bailey! This issue was beyond anything I could have hoped or wanted it to be and I never knew that until it was over. What Deniz does here amazes me and how he does it and the insight gleaned so that Max can come to this understanding in this manner it was extraordinarily well done. The creativity and imagination extend far beyond what Vittorio does as Deniz is able to really utilise Max’s age and the genre this is being set in. This is an issue that could, should stand alone and be used in grief counselling for kids.
The way this is structured is amazingly well done. I like the way the book flows as we see Max having to deal with a number of personal issues. How these become presented to us shows a great mind at work and with the opening we are given this amazing opportunity to see something different, dark and exciting that still has positivity to it and how it all works together in this manner is that hook which then tells the reader they must continue onward and see what else is in store for us. Plus the question if Max is a genius or just has an overactive imagination still rages unanswered.
The dialogue and the characterisation here are spectacular. It gives us a new look at Max and his father and how their relationship is right now compared to how it once was. This new understanding at how I see them changes the dynamic completely. Also it really makes me feel closer to Max and why he does what he does. Sometimes the imagination can be a great place to hide in, escape from the real world as you struggle to find a way to cope with everything. Other times it can be a prison where you stay too long and learn nothing except how to feed your own narcissism. That you can look at how Deniz writes this and think so far beyond what’s on the page is an attribute to his writing ability and his skill at getting the reader involved.
Vittorio’s work on the interiors continues to amaze and thrill me. The manner in which he gets to unleash his creative side is superb. The opening with is realism, followed by all that we see between Max and his dad has me floored. The utilisation of the varying weights in the linework is extraordinary and the range of soft and subtle to bold and demanding the way he does things is beautiful to see. His way of utilising the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels showcases such a marvellous eye for storytelling. Also that he doesn’t shy away from making backgrounds important to what we see makes him a star in my book, they really expand the moment continue the story and add characterisation is so important to how we see things.
This entire journey that Max and Friedrich go on here is so well conceived and executed. Hell as an adult the wide array of emotions and feelings you go through aren’t easy and to have had his dad turn to the bottle to cope doesn’t help matters any. Still that he’s able to use the landscape of the multiverse to traverse and see in his mind how he can change the way he perceives things well I cannot get over how well it’s done.
Single best issue of a series you are going to read point blank period.