Image Comics 2015
Written by Kel Symons
Illustrated by Nate Stockman
Coloured by Paul Little
Okay well yeah this just happened! We got the impression that this was post apocalyptic world but now that’s been more than confirmed. I am completely surprised at what this issue contains, the direction the story is taking and the stellar characterization that happens along the way. There’s so much here than meets the eye and as more is revealed it seems there still more hidden and this journey they’ve found themselves on is going to change this world forever!
When we were introduced to Seph’s people who each keep one piece of technology alive we’d never have thought that we’d end up seeing the Salamander people using drones, robots and the like to run their secret headquarters while on the surface they act like they are ignorant of such knowledge. Let me see if I can adequately showcase my surprise at what we see here. It’s like visiting the Planet of the Apes finding a band of humans who pretend to be mute but live in technologically advanced society waiting for a time to take over the world kind of surprise twist.
So as if one big surprise weren’t enough Kel manages to pack this issue with one hit after another. Not only do we get some great characterization as our Warden is seen talking to his spirit guide which everyone else thinks he’s crazy for but with the others too as their specific skill sets are called into view. There’s something inherently interesting about the mix of the two worlds and seeing them try to figure out unfamiliar technology. Then of course there is the flip side and seeing them catalogued and attacked by robotic creatures and having to defend themselves. By seeing both sides of the coin you get a fuller picture of everything going on so Kel really manages to pack a lot in here effectively.
I really thought when I first started reading this that it was a D&D type book but then it’s become a Sci-Fi adventure and somehow it ends up being somewhere in the middle of the two. Oh and inside the metal fortress there’s a specimen lab which needs to be seen to be believed and trust me it then goes really towards a horror story but that’s for another time. As you keep reading this story you can’t pigeon hole it into any one genre and that’s one of things that I personally really enjoy because then there are so many options on where to go from here that you can’t really guess because there are that many directions it could go so you relax and enjoy what they bring us each issue.
I love Nate and Paul’s work in the interiors, sure there are a few things I would like to see tightened up but they are getting better and better with each issue so much so that you think oh they’ll get that and ignore the little things that tend to look off. The creativity and imagination involved in bringing some the specimens to life yeah that’s what we like to see. The emotion from the characters, the use of backgrounds and the way they use the pages to really help tell the story it’s all very well done.
This is guaranteed to surprise you I promise so pick it up and see what my fuss is all about.