Aspen Comics 2016
Created & Written by David Wohl
Illustrated by Giuseppe Cafaro
Coloured by Wes Hartman
Lettered by Zen
Today, the Goddess still has servants who believe they are acting on her behalf, and some are bestowed gifts of terrible power. Sometimes the power is even given to unknowing people, who then become part of Oonaa’s grand design. Naomi Clarke’s doubts about the unexplained phenomenon at the botanica are put to rest—but not in a good way, as she once again manages to save a civilian’s life using her unex-plained ability for revival. Meanwhile, much like the goddess, Oonaa, a similar evil from the past has begun to return and take shape—and looking to make a few sacrifices of his own..
This is one of the pitfalls of the industry and small press books is that sometimes for whatever reason it could take a year between issues. Luckily the story that David has been crafting is well worth the wait and once I started to read this issue it started coming back to me. For me anyway it’s a treat to pick up something suddenly realise how long it’s been between issues, thanks google, but not have to go back a re-read the first two issues to understand or know where the story is at. A true testament to the power of the story and it’s subject matter.
I’ll be honest I could very easily get lost in the backstory that opens up the issue. I mean the past is wonderfully interesting, scary and veritable playground for the best supernatural stories to take place. So much superstition based on actual practices that so many slavers tried to stamp out and couldn’t succeed in accomplishing. That our Goddess here is among those who remain powerful thanks to those who worship her and that she was able to birth a child in the midst of that chaos to keep herself anchored to reality is mind boggling.
Then to see the now with all those years in-between to still be explored makes me quiver with anticipation. The way that David has structured this story is extremely well done so that we have all this story going on and yet nothing feels rushed, cramped or glossed over. The flow is excellent and there’s never a moment we lose interest in what’s happening. The way it takes history and the legends of gods from faraway lands and brings them to the present is done in a way that is logical and believable.
I’m a fan of Giuseppe’s and his interiors here do not disappoint in the slightest. From Havana and the Monastery to the streets of modern New York City we get to see such beautiful attention to detail. The way the page layouts are utilised through their angles, perspective and backgrounds make this as visually appealing as the words do. There’s also this great creativity and imagination on display to make the supernatural come to life alongside the actual historical context of what we see.
These are the kinds of stories that educate, entertain and thrill readers in ways they probably never realise. It really is the best form of entertainment and well worth the wait.