Lion Forge Comics 2017
Written by Amy Chu
Illustrated by Jan Duursema
Coloured by Kelly Fitzpatrick
Lettered by AW’s Tom Napolitano
Valentina Resnick-Baker is the only known surviving astronaut from a suicide mission that saved the world, and the media won’t let her forget it. Now a social recluse, Val is seeing visions, hearing voices, keeping a very dangerous power inside her, and the cosmic gift she received from surviving a near-death experience is about to be unleashed.
Over in Noble they’ve got the ones no one knows survived the suicide mission so to see the other side of the coin is going to be interesting. Also it’s a very nice look at the ships they flew in that mission as the technology here is much more advanced than I had anticipated seeing. Those space ships to open up the issue are really cool, I mean cool in the best awe inspiring way. This fact makes me want to know more about the level of intelligence and technology available in this universe.
Another thing the opening does is really give us a look at Valentina when she was in the moment. We see what so far Noble has only hinted at and that has possibilities to explore. To see that and then go to a year later, which is now, and I gotta say Amy took me there because I have no idea what’s going on but I want to know. I mean is she talking to herself, is she hearing a voice in her head we don’t know and considering she’s solo climbing in Africa yeah the intrigue factor is through the roof. The mystery surrounding her and personality in what we see is pretty much what makes Amy’s writing strike a chord with me.
So those of you who aren’t familiar with Amy’s work should be ashamed so google or bing her and find out what her credentials are, ps they are impressive. The way this book is structured is extremely well done. The ebb & flow of the storytelling is such that we are able to really get into the drama and emotion trauma that leads us to the last page. Oh Lorena I'm beginning to think that she’s this universes version of Lex Luthor. Still her presence here does more to tie Valentina into this universe outside of her being in space when the Event happened.
Jan’s work on this is pretty stellar itself. Her eye for storytelling is amazing as usual with the use of page layouts using the angles and perspective in the panels. Also she’s got a classic eye for the way things should be done and how we should see them. Her attention to detail is sublime and the characters come to life so beautifully. The linework is smooth and on point and it makes me feel like I'm back in the era I started reading. Kelly does some nice work as well with the subtle manipulation of the world and the colouring of the ghosts of her past and present.
I really like seeing that Valentina isn’t falling for or giving into Lorena and her attempts at friendship or placation. After what she’s been through the woman deserves to be left alone but since they are trying to figure out how the Event affected her and then how best to use her Lorena isn’t about to give up that easily. The dynamic is wonderfully strong and the characterisation is stellar.
Well it would seem to me that the Event is something that has changed everyone on a molecular level which allows them to have these abilities. While I’m not expecting Amy to give us a logical scientific explanation still with Valentina being an astronaut and Lorena owning that company with it’s various avenues of research I wouldn’t mind seeing, hearing and learning a few things that I wouldn’t have known otherwise.
Another great start to a new series and it seems that the Catalyst Prime universe is growing by leaps and bounds with a strength and confidence that is well deserved.