Alterna Comics 2017
Written, Inked & Lettered by Peter Simeti
Penciled by Kevin Christensen
Richard Sullivan has spent ten years on death row for a crime he claims he never committed. But lately inmates are being brutally murdered by the Warden and his guards. Will Sullivan escape before it's too late?
One of the things about this that piques my interest is that in this day and age a facility like this wouldn’t, or shouldn’t exist. Make no mistake I believe that there are people who work in the system, particularly on death row, who enjoy that for the power they think it wields them. However the kind of atrocities that Richard experiences well those are the kind that only happen in stories, after all peeing and defecating into inmates food, the guards being given carte blanche to kill inmates yeah that’s something that cannot happen in today’s society. There are way too many safeguards and watch dogs out there even if this were a privately owned prison.
That having been said this is a story and one that is meant to show us the depth of human depravity and make us ask ourselves who are the real monsters out there? I like the way that Peter approaches this story as well. It’s interesting because I see it this as something that couldn't’ possibly happen and yet the idea behind it thrills me. His depiction of a man who didn’t commit his crime hardened by his time and experiences in this place has fundamentally changed him. It’s the changed man we meet, yes he still has traces of the person he used to be but it’s the man he is now that’s the focus.
The characterisation and story development here are extremely well done. I think the decision to make this a black and white story works in its favour as well. It lends that not really Noir feel but this old timey kind of horror genre feel to it where it’s more about the story and less about the atrocities. The impact it has on the reader is strong and in it’s own way has that tone and feel that the Walking Dead did when it debuted.
The use of page layouts through the angles and perspective are extremely well done. The use of shadows and stark darkness that wipes away backgrounds really makes you feel alone with Richard. Even when there are other characters present you still don’t feel connected and that creates this wonderful atmosphere.
I kind of like the fact that Richard’s past is touched upon but really left alone. Dwelling will get him nowhere and his current predicament is more dire than facing the electric chair itself. Just the way the story is structured is nice to see as if flows through the pages introducing readers to his current way of life. We get a good sense of his daily routine and how and what he has to do to retain his sanity in a place where true monsters dwell.
Also the way that absolute power corrupts absolutely is something we don’t see that much of anymore and how we’re seeing it incorporated into the book is in my opinion one of its greatest attributes. That and proving again that not all monsters are the ones that locked away for what they’ve done some are that way by choice.