Valiant Entertainment 2019
Written by Fred Van Lente
Illustrated by Renato Guedes
Lettered by Dave Sharpe
The cosmic Quartet begins to master their jaw-dropping powers and unlock deeper meanings to their newfound abilities! Dangerous aliens have targeted the Quartet, and they’ll stop at nothing until they’ve eliminated the team. Plus, the lost history of the Psi-Lords revealed?!
Dag nabbit and bits 'n bobs this is precisely what it needs to be and that's some seriously good storytelling. Fred has always been one of those people who knows how to write, structure and create that story which makes it feel new, fresh and exciting. Trust me this is new, fresh and exciting and what we are seeing here is the next generation or wave of books from Valiant. After all there is something about the way that this story is being told and how the setting is being revealed that keep things in this really weird state of being.
The story & plot development and the character development that we see here as they circle each other, become one with each other and essentially guide each other through to the end of the book thanks tot he pacing is extremely well done. The way that we see the information and revelations unfolding before us is extraordinary and how they learn more about themselves and what they can do. Also seeing Scion again yeah that's something new isn't it and that explanation certainly is a doozy isn't it. Still what we see and how the pacing allows to enjoy it is why Fred is such a damn good storyteller.
The opening here is fantastic and I love seeing these cat people again even if they do sell out the group because of threat of extinction. That's a pretty solid reason in my book and the fact that The Astro Friends stuck is hilarious and I am in love with that aspect. Still I mean I like this because of a few things that we learn but it's also a great way to see how the rest of these Widowers having such a mad on for the team and what they did to Q'url.
The characterisation here is utterly marvellous and how we see the attention not only on our new Fab Four but also with Scion and the Widower chasing them. Each being is fleshed out in a way that suits that individual beautifully. Also the introduction of new creatures well that out of this world.
Speaking of out of this world, the interiors here are beyond incredible. I mean the level and quality of the work that we see is outrageously stellar. I am currently looking a page with a new life form and with humans so that the range of what we see from the hues and tones in the skin, the way shading happens through gradation of those colours and the linework some of which is white come across to the reader in the most mindbogglingly brilliant way. With this setting I would like to see more backgrounds because while Sparkles is great an all what we do see of these colour rich plants and animals just screams out for more. And that pin-up, I mean seriously dude wow that is a show stopper for sure!
I like that we can appreciate each character and have our own favourite for different reasons and not mind the others. There isn't one among them to hate just varying degrees of like or appreciation and that Fred has the talent to do this is amazing to me. The ginger teddy bear Russian is mine of course I mean Tank is one of the most interesting at the moment with his observations and vocabulary.
Oh this is better than any night time soap opera I have ever seen, and I am a Dynasty fanboy, the original of course. The layers of story that we see along with this cliffhanger ending makes me quiver with joy and anticipation for what's to come. Ah Valiant all too quietly just puts out some of the best books on stands today.