Aspen Comics 2019
Written by J.T. Krul
Pencilled by Raffaele Forte
Inked by Sara Ianniello
Coloured by Valentina Taddeo & Jesse Heagy
Lettered by Zen
Grace is determined to protect magic in all its forms from a world still locked in their technological ways, but she is not outwardly looking for a fight. Minerva, on the other hand, has amassed a strike force from around the globe and is ready to face this strange new danger. And now, she has a target--Rainier’s realm at Devil’s Tower!
They weren't kidding this really is the biggest story that they've told yet. The opening here is a great way to look back at the history of the franchise thus far and for new readers it is a boon and for long-time fans it's just a beautiful reminder. Just to look back and see what Malakai has been through as young man and to have survived it none the worse for wear, seriously, just makes me think he is much more impressive. Also to see how far he's come and how much he's grown up, whether he was ready to or not, is a nice thing to see.
J.T. Is an incredibly good, strong writer and he understands how a story should be structured. The way he utilises the story & plot development and weaves it with the character development, like a Twizzler or a Red Vine, that is carried along the pacing is so well done. One of the things that I found to be very enjoyable is the dialogue between Mal and P.J.. This to me is how two best friends are not only going to talk to each other but who have each other's back in a way that says the bonds of friendship they have have made them family, brother's if you will so that looking out for each other is as instinctive as it gets.
With folks like Defence Minister Cordella who needs friends or more apropos enemies when you've got her. I don't like this woman and I don't think we are supposed to. She is motivated by something that puts her at odds with the situation and that's dangerous plus she's also power hungry another trait that spells potential disaster. Add into that those she has paid to be brought to her side, otherwise some of them wouldn't have the right motivation.
I love the interiors that we are seeing here. There is something about the linework that is so classically comics and yet is has this stellar attention to detail while managing to add this manga-ish feel to the book. P.J.'s hair and the wings, and Rainier himself help fuse the genre's together like we saw in Yu Gi Oh. Good grief seeing Abel and all the linework on him is a complete wow factor. The way that we see the composition inside the panels through the perspective, angles and utilisation of backgrounds show this wonderfully talented eye for storytelling. Also I'm madly wild with how we see the inking done and how they finish the linework perfectly. The colour work here is outstanding! From lights of all kinds and the brightness in the hues it just stands out and draws the eye. The way we see the colour work define musculature's is sensation and the colour blocking is utilised effectively and even some colour gradation brings this life.
It is nice to see Vanyss again even if she's with Rainier at this point in time. Why Grace is with him though is beyond any true reasoning I can see. I mean let's think about it for a moment, she wants to protect magic, she unleashes magic into the world through Mal as she betrays him, then she runs to Rainier who wants to yield all the magic and rule the world. Saying he's reformed, she is taking him at his word and wants him to change her mind on their past. So that the ending plays out like it does sends my head spinning faster than a kid on a sit-n-spin! This is just a damn fun read.