Impact Theory 2019
Written by Jim Krueger & Samantha Levenshus
Illustrated by Neil Edwards & Jheremy Raapack
Coloured by David Kim & Nuo Xu
Additional Colours by Gabe Eltaeb & Anthony Washington
Lettered by Samantha Levenshus, Farhad Haydarian & AlargerWorldStudios
As Clay begins to harness his new powers, a new romance ignites between he and Dee. Meanwhile, Mars prepares to make an unexpected deal with his nemesis; tech hunter EZ: a deal that will mean disaster for Clay and Neon Future as we know them.
Creative people attract creative people. In this instance Steve Aoki, DJ extraordinaire, takes his passion for storytelling and brings us Impact Theory and Neon Future. In this current day and age comics are a place where people turn to that you just don’t expect. From frontmen of bands and DJ’s, Novelists and more are turning to the medium for it’s ability to express themselves. Personally I am all for it and that this is a new venture a new company it just goes to show that comics are much more than mainstream these days.
I think this book is pretty amazing. The concept is incredibly interesting and it’s execution is flawlessly done. Even better is the fact that while the story itself is fiction it will resonate with readers’ for a myriad of different reasons. Clay has been ambushed, transformed against his will and is thrust into a war that he knows so very little about and the fact that he isn’t this perfectly well adjusted guy who’s rip roaring and ready to go is a huge draw for me. That Dee is pushing him hard to get him into the kind of shape where physically he’s able to handle the pressures that are coming is among the best characterisation we see. Between the dialogue and the actions & reactions that are happening flesh them out beautifully.
The way that this book is structured so that the information, story & plot development are woven throughout with this stellar pacing means that we get swept up in this immediately and we don’t want it to end. It is almost as if we’re intruding in their lives and I think that being able to write that way is a feat few possess. I can see this as one of the SyFy television shows or on Netflix, or Hulu if the production is done right.
The interiors here are beyond what one could or should expect to see. The linework is stupendous and the way we see it utilised through it’s varying weights in or order to create this level of attention to detail is mind blowing. I am completely and utterly impressed with the way we see the composition in the panels. The utilisation of the backgrounds so they expand the moments and bring us a sense of size and scope to the story is magnificent. Also how we see the feeling of movement within these page is incredible. The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show us this marvellous eye for storytelling. The colour work we see is simply beautiful. There are these bright pops of colour, light sources are utilised to create the shading, colour blocking and gradation effects all of which work together exceptionally well.
The book has this great layering to the story that keeps us thinking, guessing and engaging the readers’ mind in ways that are exciting. Clay is very much adrift at sea and these folks who are harbouring him have their own agenda that includes him whether he likes it or not. Then of course there are those who want to see him removed on principle alone regardless of the fact that he didn’t ask for this to happen to him. He is a high profile face, name and person and the intricacies that surround that aren’t lost on the reader.
One of the most exciting debuts of the year Neon Future will reaffirm your faith in loving comics for what they represent.