Titan Comics 2018
Written by George Mann
Illustrated by Dan Boultwood
Lettered y Rob Steen
Need to dismantle rogue automata, uncover plots against the crown, or put down a zombie infestation? Newbury and Hobbes are the Victorian duo to call on!
I did not know that a literary version of Newbury & Hobbes existed until I looked it up. Now I have more than a passing fancy to pick up one and see how it is. Meanwhile I will say that the trend of Steampunk isn’t going to go away it’s niche finds itself growing into mainstream popularity depending upon who writes it and how it’s portrayed. Here we see mechanical men and carriages fuelled by steam engines. This alongside some pretty advanced weaponry mixes the whole idea of H.G. Wells, Steampunk and Sherlock Holmes together beautifully.
Now I like the fact that George is intimately familiar with these characters, having written more than a few of it’s novels. This allows him to bring them to life for us so much easier than perhaps if he’d started from scratch. Also it benefits us the readers in terms of characterisation and how he places into the story those moments which happened previously should we decide to go back and read them all the while still making it completely new reader friendly. I’ve been a fan of George’s since I found his work at Titan Comics and I’ve followed him ever since.
I like the way this book is structured a lot. By opening up in the middle of a fight with no real explanation other than it’s happening is brilliantly done. It is exciting, eye catching and most of all makes the reader what the heck is going on and makes you want to see and know more. So kudos on that because it did make me excited to see what was going to happen next. This is why I say all the time that the opening of any book, more so a first issue or series premiere, is so important because if it doesn’t do all that then people will put it back on the shelf in favour of something else.
The pacing for this book is really good and strong as well. This includes how we are introduced to the characters and those in their supporting cast. The idea of the villainy involved is also delightfully presented to us. Though there is one character in particular that would be in the Newbury’s corner but comes off as villainous thanks to appearances and that moment, which you understand if your reading it, was a spectacular wow moment.
I am a huge fan of the interiors here! First off there is this wonderfully unique and interesting way that the page layouts are utilised and only add to the mystique and interest of what we see. The angles and perspective we see in the panels is superb and I am more than pleasantly surprised by the utilisation of backgrounds here. The manipulation through the varying weights of the linework to create the subtleness or boldness depending on the situation and eye focus is so very nice to see. While it has this almost all-ages or T for Teen aspect to it there is so much more about it that the readers eye will find engaging. That goes for the colouring as well with the foreground versus backgrounds and how they are done so the eye knows precisely where to go first.
I found this to be incredibly entertaining and wildly imaginative. With so much pure joy seeming to come from everyone involved in this book it’s easy to see that being passed onto the reader. I cannot recommend this more as once again Titan Comics keeps a firm grip on my attention and a place in my must read material!