Image Comics 2016
Written by Sara Kenney
Illustrated by John Watkiss
Coloured by James Devlin
Lettered by Jared K. Fletcher
As Rosa Scott aka Surgeon X struggles to save lives in a post-antibiotic world, she learns more about the horrific death of her mother. This news pushes her brother into a psychotic breakdown, and when the Scott family have a royal engagement at Buckingham Palace with King Charles, things get even weirder.
Last issue we were introduced to this world in an intelligent and explosive way. This issue it’s time to take a closer look at Rosa, her family and the ramifications of what her father told her about her mother’s death. I have to say I do like that Sara still manages to keep the fact that antibiotics have become increasingly ineffective with their overuse while fleshing out the characters.
I have to say I kind of laughed out loud when Rosa was helping Mia with her problem. I mean c’mon super-gonorrhea is no laughing matter but when it’s become drug resistant well there’s a problem. Still super-gonorrhea was something I thought was a myth till I looked it up and see that well it’s a real thing and where it’s most prevalent right now. Of course where she’s at doing the treatment leads to Rosa seeing her father. I love their conversation because they both have valid points regarding her mother and both of them on each other’s points of view and attitudes.
The new reality they live in compromise seems harder to come by than antibiotics that actually work. Still it does something for their characterisation and while they may have vastly different views it’s easy to see they are father and daughter. Whether she will ever admit it she’s her father’s daughter. The focus on the family this issue was fantastic really how they all argue and yet still get along was wonderful to see. The trophy wife her father has well I could do without that but it’s a reality and i’m sure she’s not there for love alone, she his youngest child’s age after all.
John and James do some really nice work on the interiors here. There’s a nice simplicity to what we see and the shading or highlights really make moments stand out nicely. The way that page layouts are used with angles and perspective help the story flow well. The use of backgrounds are strategically used and utilised well. Plus that Kidney moment well yeah that’s freakin amazing to see, super impressed with how that stood out.
I like the way the science is balanced with the family dynamic here so that we’re fully intrigued by all aspects of the story. There’s science, murder, mystery and drama woven into this by Sara beautifully and it’s all here in one issue so that we can continue to get just enough of each aspect to have that desire to return to see how each plays out. I like the research done too on the antibiotic front, I have looked into it myself so she’s really doing well with that, and I look forward to seeing how far she takes things.
Fiction that hits really close to home it’s the best kind of storytelling there is and wakeup call if ever one was needed.