Image Comics 2015
Written by Grant Morrison
Illustrated by Chris Burnham
Coloured by Nathan Fairbairn
Past, present, future for Nameless there really doesn’t seem to be much of a distinction and with his abilities and what he can do well it makes learning more about him just that much more interesting. I think one of the things that fascinates me immensely about all this is that it takes a while to figure out if what we see if pre or post or during what he’s experiencing in space. The way Grant writes all this it could be any of it at any given point in time and that kind of maddening experience makes this that much more desirable to read. it’s the unpredictability that we get which draws us in like a magnet.
Chris has been and continues to be an extremely talented artist but there’s something about what he’s bringing to the table here seems to have elevated what he does. Page one with Nameless standing inside that police tape is just so mesmerizing and captivating, he’s this perfect representation it’s so damn good. Not just that though it’s the whole issue from the past to the present it just has this extra something about it like he’s hit this new plateau with what he can do.
Somehow that what he experienced previously tying into the trip to the asteroid Xibalba and the whole thing feeling like it’s predestined wasn’t what I was expecting but then that’s why I love Grant’s storytelling ability. In the house where we see what’s been already with a group of thirteen of the world’s most notable psychics, be them real or created, and the chaos that can happen when someone thinks it’s a good idea to bring them together for their own purpose. One of the things i’m hoping for now is that we get to revisit some of this later on down the road. We’re getting so much potential background information and how all of what we’ve seen so far has impacted Nameless.
By the way that scene with the bright blues, purples and reds yeah that’s one of those Holy Shit moments and i’m including the wording in that as well. The ramifications of what they’ve found and whom they are communicating with well let’s just say everything we’ve learned thus far gets changed. When his memories of the past and present merge and change how he sees things it changes how we see things and it’s this constant change that keeps you guessing and thinking as you read. It’s very cerebral in nature and it’s this kind of story that you have to think about that makes me excited for the series.
There’s a scene where Nameless claims “God made me do it” that i’d love to see more of! There’s something inherently creepy and fascinating in the fact that his pants are where they are and the peekaboo somewhat hidden penis is the kind of possession that keeps me watching horror movies. There’s so much going on here that means you have to pay attention to each panel of each page and what’s written on it or you’ll miss something.
This is one of the most complex, innovative, unique and interesting stories on stands. With the quality of the writing and the interior artwork to match there’s a reason image is at the forefront of the greatest books around.