Skybound/Image Comics 2019
Created & Written by Justin Jordan
Created & Illustrated by Rebekah Isaacs
Coloured by Alex Guimarães
Lettered by Clayton Cowles
Hell’s Half-Dozen’s suicide mission to the Anvil leads them straight through Rael territory, home to the many nations of skin eaters. Five of these dangerous convicts are prepared to fight for their freedom—but which one is working on a secret agenda of their own?
There are plenty of times when I see a book is coming out and then see it on the shelf at the store and realise what it is, what its about and the the excitement builds all over again. This is one of those that when you see it and the realisation hits you your eyes light up like the fourth of July that's the moment you know something is great. Somehow Justin never seems to disappoint me when he writes a story so that I faithfully follow his work. With Rebekah here they have managed to create this story that feels like someone took Dungeons & Dragons characters and made an Ocean's 11 mission to complete.
The way that the story is being told and how the book is structured is fantastic. The story & plot development and the character development are woven around, through and into one another with that expertise of a great writer. The characterisation in particular is sensationally well done as we really get more of a feel for who they are by their dialogue, banter back and forth as well as their actions and reactions to the situations that arise. All of this is essential to the storytelling and establishing who we like, who we don't and the all important these two creep me the eff out and I want them dead. This team is a hodgepodge of characters who fight not for their freedom but for their lives as they've been poisoned and the antidote, or a close facsimile thereof, is doled out daily.
All this is recipe for disaster and yet Justin makes this feel like a group of old friends who want nothing more than to go home and retire and yet fulfil their duties. Also this issue does incredible wonders for letting the reader get to know the characters well the ones we like not the two creepy ones who are in charge of this expedition. I will wholeheartedly admit that Styrian is my least favourite of the group but even he has moments to shine and prove me wrong and this is why I love reading Justin's work he can make things seem one way, be another and still do misdirection under our noses so nothing is what it appears to be.
Rebekah's work on the interiors here is spectacular to see. The linework is beautifully rendered and how the varying weights are utilised to bring out this attention to detail is stunning work. The sense of movement and the chill in the air all are almost palpable, that's how well done they are. Faces and facial expressions help expand upon the characterisation that words alone can't do. I love the way we see depth, and perspective in the various heights and builds of the characters. The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective show this masters eye for storytelling. The way that backgrounds are utilised even in this kind of tundra is spectacular to me. The colour work is gorgeous and that we see these various shades of white, hard to do mind you, so kudos, and the randomness of the snowflakes are done in this mindbogglingly good way. The way that we see hues and tones within the colours to showcase shading and shadows is perfectly done.
The creativity and imagination that is on display here is bloody brilliant to see come to life. Between the writing and the interiors and how the concept comes alive and takes on a life of it's own makes this that perfect heading into Fall reading.