Lion Forge 2017
Written by Brandon Thomas
Pencilled by Jamal Igle
Inked by Robin Riggs
Coloured by Sotocolor
Lettered by Saida Temofonte
I'm continually impressed with the level of storytelling that is going on here. Astrid takes centre stage this issue as we see the fallout from last issue when David said he didn't know who she was. This of course was made all the more frustrating to her when Lorena showed her face. Now we all know that hell, hath no fury...... so the two women who apparently have quite a history bring us more about the story, what's going on here and how David factors in making it an ideal jumping on point for new readers.
Brandon's dialogue here is incredibly flawless in letting us inside the women's relationship both past, present and future. Not to mention that it also gives us a chance to really get a tad more involved in the story. It is very clear that Lorena feels like mending more bridges to get her friend back than Astrid will let her and that might be a downfall for either or both of them in the very near future. Let's face it David isn't really all that mentally stable at the moment and in trying to recover his memories well things could get downright dangerous.
Oh and can I just mention that Brandon may not have intended this but Lorena and Astrid totally give me that night time soap opera, see Dynasty in Crystal and Alexis, vibe. It totally and completely works for me here too.
I may not have been expecting this issue to be as strong as it is but I should have. This series has been eye catching and worth reading to me since the first issue. The premise of how and where David got his abilities and subsequently his return to Earth with his death and resurrection are the foundation of an origin story that helps shape this new universe. I don't think anyone has done it better than I'm seeing right now as Brandon continues to navigate the darker corridors of some very off the radar secret government kind of group.
Jamal's contribution here is amazing to see. I've been a big fan of his work for years now and he certainly never disappoints. The linework is utterly gorgeous and he's got one hell of an inker bringing that to light. The attention to detail here is so nice to see and the colouring with all the shading is impressive. Jamal's eye for storytelling is on full display here as he utilises the page layouts through their angles and perspective. The fact that he's also pretty darn good about using backgrounds to enhance the story is something I really appreciate.
I love the lies, deception and subterfuge that is on full display here and yes most of that is coming from Lorena. So that David doesn't remember his past and she has mind control triggers placed within his head make him more a puppet right now. That he hasn't realised this makes me shiver in antici......pation for when that comes. With the amount of flashbacks that he either doesn't understand and isn't voicing about seeing it shouldn't be too long now.
Catalyst Prime is a my new favourite super-hero universe and I'll raise my glass to a long and healthy life for it, L'Chiam!