Stargate Atlantis: Hearts and Minds #1
American Mythology Productions 2017
Written by Mark L. Haynes & J.C. Vaughn
Illustrated by Greg LaRocque
Coloured by Gene Jimenez
Lettered by James Dufendach
After circumventing the power overload Janus had created, Atlantis survived and eventually returned to its most recent home in the Pegasus galaxy. Cut off from direct gate travel to Earth, they work quickly to restore order. The mysterious aliens, though, “rescue” Janus, who is our dimension’s analog to their creator. Newly freed, empowered and rendered unstable by his time spent in stasis, Janus wages a protracted campaign against Atlantis and it’s interests. The ability to gate directly to Earth has just been restored….
Two things, A. Welcome Back to Greg LaRocque whose work is more amazing than ever before and B. THIS is my FAVOURITE arc so far! We all know i’ve been singing the praises for this since it’s return and the three issue arcs have worked extremely well as they feel like episodes. For me each arc is equivalent to one episode just to clarify. The dual story going on in these pages has me so excited and it’s not like the boys haven’t been telling incredible stories all this time it just for some reason struck a chord with me that won’t let go.
Chuck and Walter are the first to go through the Gate to get back to Earth only they don’t arrive. Either there was a glitch or there was some kind of outside (divine?) intervention that put them on another planet. So they are stuck there while the rest go about life as normal. Which is a shame because if they were “essential” personnel then someone would be looking for them but as it stands i’m still hoping they aren’t being “thrown away.” Why because the characterisation and what they are experiencing/going through is making them people I want to see more of and given expanded roles to.
I do like that while they are struggling to survive in a hostile environment the rest of the team is struggling with their diplomatic mission as Janus undermines them at every step. This is because it’s nice to see how Atlantis is dealing with the “natives” in a way that exposes them to the truth of their actions as seen by those they deal with. It ain’t pretty and I have to say i’m loving every moment of it! It’s psychological warfare of the grandest kind and it’s delicious to see our “heroes” squirm as they have to figure out a way to come out on top.
Oh my Greg’s work is stunning here. I love the way he utilises the page layouts through angles, perspective and the use of the backgrounds--from city scapes, villages to the jungle it all has a dynamic look and feel. The cast bears an uncanny resemblance to the actors who portray them and it’s great, impressive and still they manage to convey all the emotion and let the reader hear their voice in the dialogue.
Maybe it’s the combination of these two story arcs combining with Greg’s interiors but there’s something elevated about this issue for me that surpasses everything that’s come before. I love the story, the execution, pacing and characterisation that leaves us wondering how they will “fix” their current situation. This engages the reader in ways even the series didn’t and that’s something special!
American Mythology Productions 2017
Written by Mark L. Haynes & J.C. Vaughn
Illustrated by Greg LaRocque
Coloured by Gene Jimenez
Lettered by James Dufendach
After circumventing the power overload Janus had created, Atlantis survived and eventually returned to its most recent home in the Pegasus galaxy. Cut off from direct gate travel to Earth, they work quickly to restore order. The mysterious aliens, though, “rescue” Janus, who is our dimension’s analog to their creator. Newly freed, empowered and rendered unstable by his time spent in stasis, Janus wages a protracted campaign against Atlantis and it’s interests. The ability to gate directly to Earth has just been restored….
Two things, A. Welcome Back to Greg LaRocque whose work is more amazing than ever before and B. THIS is my FAVOURITE arc so far! We all know i’ve been singing the praises for this since it’s return and the three issue arcs have worked extremely well as they feel like episodes. For me each arc is equivalent to one episode just to clarify. The dual story going on in these pages has me so excited and it’s not like the boys haven’t been telling incredible stories all this time it just for some reason struck a chord with me that won’t let go.
Chuck and Walter are the first to go through the Gate to get back to Earth only they don’t arrive. Either there was a glitch or there was some kind of outside (divine?) intervention that put them on another planet. So they are stuck there while the rest go about life as normal. Which is a shame because if they were “essential” personnel then someone would be looking for them but as it stands i’m still hoping they aren’t being “thrown away.” Why because the characterisation and what they are experiencing/going through is making them people I want to see more of and given expanded roles to.
I do like that while they are struggling to survive in a hostile environment the rest of the team is struggling with their diplomatic mission as Janus undermines them at every step. This is because it’s nice to see how Atlantis is dealing with the “natives” in a way that exposes them to the truth of their actions as seen by those they deal with. It ain’t pretty and I have to say i’m loving every moment of it! It’s psychological warfare of the grandest kind and it’s delicious to see our “heroes” squirm as they have to figure out a way to come out on top.
Oh my Greg’s work is stunning here. I love the way he utilises the page layouts through angles, perspective and the use of the backgrounds--from city scapes, villages to the jungle it all has a dynamic look and feel. The cast bears an uncanny resemblance to the actors who portray them and it’s great, impressive and still they manage to convey all the emotion and let the reader hear their voice in the dialogue.
Maybe it’s the combination of these two story arcs combining with Greg’s interiors but there’s something elevated about this issue for me that surpasses everything that’s come before. I love the story, the execution, pacing and characterisation that leaves us wondering how they will “fix” their current situation. This engages the reader in ways even the series didn’t and that’s something special!
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