Image Comics 2017
Written by Pablo Raimondi & Klaus Janson
Ancient Past Illustrated by Klaus Janson & Dean White
Contemporary Scenes Illustrated by Pablo Raimondi
Coloured by Chris Chuckry & Brian Reber
Naviel's son, Adrian, is desperately trying to piece together the events leading to his mother's murder. Realising that Josh is only a pawn in a bigger conspiracy that no one yet understands, Adrian has reluctantly agreed to help keep him out of harm's way, but it's to no avail-the police catch up to Josh and arrest him just as his pregnant girlfriend Julia goes into labour, about to give birth to the son. What none of them know is that for reasons that remain unexplained, Envy sent Lust to the hospital to take Josh and Julia's baby as soon as he's born....
I have to say that the creative use of Nephilim here is extremely well done. I mean it's difficult to choose which one aspect of their controversial history is the one to use. Though in popular culture they've gone from Giants to children of fallen angels which seems to be the prevalent theory apparently. Then there is also the fact that Nephilim are considered abominations by some and should be killed, with these it would appear that should've been the case as we see how dangerous the child of a fallen angel and a human can be.
Now having talked about all that let's hit the issue at hand, shall we? So, the past segments are where we are really beginning to see why the Nephilim hate Naviel so much and then how Adrian was conceived. There really is a whole lot of reasons for Envy, Abiyma 'El, in particular from today's revelations. I will say that I like the way we're seeing supposed events woven into story, I say supposed because we've no real evidence that Sodom and Gomorrah actually existed. So how the guys are taking the bible and events and making them real to us this way is extremely well done.
There is very much a disconnect between the past and the present when it comes to the interiors here. Two very different styles that would work for a story alone but together seem very much at odds with one another. Sorry Klaus but the now work is much cleaner, sleeker and full that amazing attention to detail that makes feel now. Whereas the past while lovely lacks that certain amount of realness and appears more as if it were from an imaginary tale. Regardless both segments have great use of page layouts with their angles and perspectives. The backgrounds throughout are so well utilised and that expands the story infinitely more. One thing where was the peen? There was a lot of nakedness this issue and while seeing that threesome with the doc and the cop and the woman was nice there should've been junk showing somewhere.
While what we see of the past gives us the basis for what we are seeing in the present it's really the contemporary stuff that holds more interest for me. I love seeing the siblings in action and then how Adrian meets Julia and her mother. All of that is exceptional writing with the dialogue and the actions that we see on page. Then there's Josh and Detective Leo Crowe in the interrogation room. Leo believes in a lot of what Josh is saying because he was on scene and saw the size of that cat which destroyed his car. Whether or not he becomes an ally in their lives remains to be seen but I have high hopes that becomes an essential part of the story.
As the action and intrigue never seem to cease and everybody is on the run, even the siblings as they too race for the child and Josh, it feels like a big screen thriller. This is one where you read the issue then go back grab all of them and reread them in order with each new issue because A. you can't get enough and B. it's too damn exciting and you need to see moments you might have missed that are now relevant.