Aftershock Comics 2019
Created & Written by Eliot Rahal
Created & Illustrated by Clara Meath
Coloured by Mark Englert
Lettered by Taylor Esposito of Ghost Glyph Studio
Oliver Flores has had every single decision in his life taken from him. First by the aliens that abducted him. Then by the authorities who wanted to put him in a mental asylum. And now by this bizarre cult leader who just wants to use him. It's time for Oliver to stand up for himself. It's time for him to face his fears. If Oliver wants a life worth living then he has to make it for himself. The only problem is...will it cost him everything that he has left?
No this cannot be the way it ends, I can't accept that and there had best be one more issue. Oliver didn't get interesting until he got a haircut and went on the run, well he was abducted as a kid and he's only vaguely aware of what's going on with him at the moment. This issue we open up with Oliver meeting a kindred soul and well crazy is as crazy does right?, God Bless his Heart. I have to say I like Eliot is doing here with the characters and who does, who doesn't believe and who needs convincing.
I really am enjoying the way that this is being told. The story & plot development as seen through the sequence of events unfolding as well as how the reader learns information is really well done. Well the only issue I have is with this technique to help him remember, why isn't he naked??? I am sorry but I don't believe for a minute they'd say okay leave your jeans and t-shirt on and get into this sacred spring. You cannot sell on that point, point blank period! The character development is really rather fresh and exciting here. For the same reasons I mentioned above makes them so memorable and those we like, don't and those who are bat-shit crazy. The pacing is great and as it takes us through the pages revealing the twists and turns along way we get to see a really solid, interesting ebb & flow happening.
Oliver is a great character and I am dying to see more of his step-father. After all they've shared this experience and with all the new information being given now more than ever I want to see more of their relationship explored. They have a bond now that surpasses father and son that's formed something new and that we see so little of that pains me to some degree.
Clara's linework is laid down gorgeously. The way we see the linework and how through utilising it's varying weights bring about this kind of attention to detail shows strength through delicacy and it's quite the feat to see happening. The creativity and imagination that we see on display is phenomenal. The way we see backgrounds being utilised and within the composition inside the panels that bring us depth perception, scale and that overall sense of size and scope to the book is utterly marvellous. The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show this superb eye for storytelling. The colour work is beautifully rendered. The way that hues and tones are utilised to create the shading, highlights and shadow work is captured extremely well. The colours here are so important to how the reader feels at any moment and sometimes the power behind that is shocking.
This is not only an extremely fun book but it has a message as well. People who have experiences outside of the societal norm shouldn't be discounted or discredited because of them. It is an injustice to them and to yourself by doing so. That this is written with a passion for storytelling that we see through the writing and the visuals makes a stunning impact on the reader is something I hope you have the chance to experience for yourself.