215 Ink 2016
By Michael David Nelson
Reality-hopping thieves join the newly ascended consciousness of Astronaut Stephen Haddon - now known as the Supernaut - pulling trans-dimensional capers across the Macroverse! Strange artifacts on the Moon, meeting God and stealing a map to the land of the dead from a secret pyramid beneath the Pentagon. A mystical, cosmic, sci-fi adventure like no other!
You’ll notice the interior artwork first. It’s vibrant and alive with the way Michael puts things to the page. There’s a definite presence about it that is captivating. So much so that it took me a couple of reads to really get into the story itself. Don’t let that discourage or fool you because it’s a great story and it has multiple tones to it that once you get into it you really appreciate. This isn’t a skim and read book it’s a sit take your time and devour book and it has to be that way.
We open with Stephen talking to God who looks like some kind of Roman fighter. Aside from the dialogue these two have about him destroying the universe it’s really kind of heady stuff. You have to read it, really read it because it’s interesting to see the perspectives and points of view between these two as they talk about what’s important, what is and what was intended. It’s unexpected in it’s subtle brilliance of how the world is or could be perceived and my hats off to Michael for this exchange.
Then we get to meet the gang that Stephen, aka Supernaut, runs with. They are stealing what is a map to some to others who knows it’s decidedly something you have to see and experience if it’s going to make any sense whatsoever. Because i’m a geek and a nerd this group feels likes put together like any tabletop RPG game would be. With different classes of characters whose specialities work in concert with each other to hopefully make them as effective as they can possibly be. It feels right that they are together and their personalities may not be always in sync but again when are they ever in a group?
The page layouts here with the angles, perspective and the use of colour and design really make this a huge standout for me. The way the book flows is incredibly well done and everything that we see is exactly as it’s intended for that maximum impact that Michael wants to bring. It’s always something incredibly special when one person is able to bring their vision to life like this. So much talent is on display here.
The way Michael not only introduces us to the story, the characters and what it is they’ve been brought together to do but gets the reader involved in it all is great. There’s a strong story here told in a not so linear fashion that is striking and interesting. By the end of the issue you’ve got a good understanding of things but are still left pondering. That means you’ll be back because he manages to really draw you into this.
A stunning debut issue that is a rare treat for the mind and all your senses.