Alterna Comics 2019
By Bernie Gonzalez
Lettered by Wes Locher
Warning: Something is coming. It lives beyond the city of ghosts. It's stranger than the supernatural and more mystifying than magic. Detective Zeke King has survived a war. He's travelled past the outer limits of twilight...but he's not ready for what comes next!
Okay this is one of those must have series. I mean it has taken a turn for the weird, which given the nature of the book is really saying something, that makes me feel like I'm watching that Poltergeist Legacy on telly. So the fact that when the original arc was over and I really wasn't expecting to see much more as I figured the next arc would be another new case to record. In some ways yes, in others no what ended up happening is the larger story being woven into numerous arcs that continue to grow, evolve and change as each new one begins. This is just brilliant storytelling and the sheer fact that Bernie manages to surprise me at every turn is an added bonus.
The way that this is being told is superb. The story & plot development we see through how the sequence of events unfold and how the reader leans information is laid down with such an expertise. I love the way we see and learn stuff here because not only does Bernie bring the essence of fun to the book but the mystery and intrigue factors are off the charts. The character development is amazing to see. How the dialogue, or banter, shows off the personality or how we see them act and react to the situations and circumstances tells a lot about them. The pacing is perfect and as it takes us through the pages revealing the twists, turns and a revelation or two it helps create this sensational ebb & flow to the story.
Bernie is amazing and I will reiterate that to anyone who needs to hear it. That does this almost all by his lonesome, Wes is darn fine letterer who probably doesn't get the near the credit he deserves, is something that always impresses me. To have that much talent, skill and aptitude to do it is deserving of mad respect and more so since it's this damn good. Also once you read this you are a fan for life because not only is this interesting but you kind of fall in with the characters and you need to know more at the end of the arc.
It may just be me but I think the linework we see here is getting better and better. Wow, impressive to see the first few pages, the all important recap, then to see the trees through the red glass and then that splash page with the poster is one I would most certainly frame and hang in my house. The attention to detail is magnificent and be it in the form of brick buildings, patterning we see on the walls it all really makes what we see that much more powerful. Then there is also that sunrise which looks like the skies on fire, that is ah-maz-zing to see on the page seriously impressive mindbogglingly good. The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show such a stupendous eye for storytelling. How backgrounds are incorporated and how the composition in the panels helps create the depth perception, scale and the overall sense of size and scope is marvellous. The colour work is something else. I've mentioned a few moments earlier and throughout the issue we see such a strategic utilisation of shadows, shading and highlights.
This is among my favourite books. If anyone asks I will assuredly recommend this. Bernie is one hell of a storyteller and Zeke is an amazing character creation. This is beyond just a Noir genre Private Dick story it's become something that transcends any genre.