Image Comics 2017
By Kaare Kyle Andrews
Lettered & Designed by Jeff Powell
Life imitates art or art imitates life i’m never really sure which one goes first, regardless it’s a cycle we’ll never really get away from. The first series took place during the run for election of the American President and what was set in motion then had a funny way of playing out the way we’ve seen things play here. Not saying Kaare is seer or knew something we all didn’t it’s ironic is all. The power that the 1% have and continue to build is one that threatens the very lives of the rest of us and we do nothing about it.
I have the utmost respect for Kaare because he is so multi-talented. Any person who can write this well and also illustrate their writing with a decided passion and flare that makes it all come to life in ways that leave the reader feeling the way we do deserves the accolades. It’s one of those rare times when you see something fall into place in a way that the Gods, fate, destiny whatever you want to call it come together at the most perfect point in time to create something beyond what was intended. Everything we see on the page is exactly what he wants us to see and what is meant to bring the most oomph and ya know what it certainly does.
Renato, Bliss, her father, his mentor and that absolute stereotype of a mercenary were all introduced in the last arc and return here pretty much exactly where we left off. Love is a many splendored thing it’s also the worst possible thing that can happen to you as well. More so when you’re Renato Jones and the love of your life’s father is one of the most ruthless men on the planet. Loyalty and desire all intertwine nicely here as we see how things unfold. Also that Kaare manages to put in a huge twist into this issue’s revelations just make me fall in love with this book all over again.
The interiors here are fabulous! The use of page layouts, their angles and perspective and the whole way he makes the page come alive is stunning. Also a huge shoutout for those ads he places in the book with the photography and the message of the advertising, spot on. The negative look we get on some of this was brilliantly portrayed. While i’m usually a detail oriented guy this style of work speaks to me. There’s a passion, elegance and depth to the work that just grabs you.
The fight against oppression for equality has been going on as long as there have been those who ruled over others. It’s almost a natural order of things, those that have always will those that don’t won’t. Master, servant or boss, worker it’s called a lot of things but in the end it always seems to look the same from whatever angle you see it from. That Kaare sees it in his own unique way and brings that to life in the form he does makes this not only interesting but thought provoking as well.
Strong, emotional and leaves the reader asking questions they might never have thought before Renato Jones is that balancing act between reality and fiction.