Image Comics 2014
Written by Alex Grecian
Illustrated by Riley Rossmo
Coloured by Ivan Plascencia
I’m such a huge fan of this series and while it seems logical to take this to where it’s gone I still miss seeing him back in the past even if that’s just what Alex imagined the Mad Monk was like and how he was used. There’s something majestic and beautiful about that era and those living in it. Still the thought that somehow Rasputin has moved forward in time either having lived his life entirely in secret or not doesn’t matter. Seeing how a man of his sensibilities makes his way among our modern society should prove to be something extraordinary to see.
As we open with Harrison running for President as she’s making a speech and quite well demonstrated in an assassin’s crosshairs and Rasputin is in the limousine hearing screams what he’s doing here with her is somewhat revealed. Once again Rasputin’s skills at bringing the dead back to life or healing them before their truly are dead comes into play. In this day and age however this kind of act will not go unnoticed what with cellphone cameras and all. There’s one woman who smells a story in this and her part in this little drama is just starting.
As we head back to the past at the camp where Rasputin tried to heal as many of the wounded soldiers as he could the interior artwork takes on that clouded past feel of an old movie. I think Riley’s interior work here keeps getting better and better with each issue, as if this experience has taken his work to a new level. He’s always been talented but now it just feels likes he’s been able to elevate it to some new place and he deserves accolades and praise for what he’s able to bring to the page.
What happens with the little ghost boy after Rasputin falls to the ground after healing so many is remarkable. The fates have seemingly decreed that this isn’t his time nor how it is the end of his story. The whole thing here is just something I wasn’t prepared for and the way that Alex depicts it in his writing is superb. This adds a whole new level of characterization to Rasputin that we hadn’t seen before but will this be a positive or a negative? Will he change how and whom he decides to heal again remains unknown but perhaps this instance was that moment in his life that made him hide away from the rest of the world.
I like how this issue ended. Shanae Tolliver has made her grand entrance and Rasputin isn’t alone in his apartment. Who the mysterious person with him I can’t wait to see and hopefully there will be a massive twist in that but even if not who cares with Riley’s interiors and Alex’s writing they’ve managed to make his legend even more exciting and thrilling than I ever thought possible.
Innovate, fresh and full of mysteries this really is groundbreaking stuff and in my humble opinion is award winning worthy.