Boom Studios 2015
Created & Written by Curt Pires
Created & Illustrated by David Rubin
Coloured by Michael Garland
I am enthralled by the concept of this story. There’s something fun, interesting, and all around magical about what the characters experience as well as a fundamental anchor from your childhood friends enveloped in happiness and tragedy that form the future. David’s style of artwork isn’t what I usually gravitate towards and the eyes at times bother me but his overall imagination and how he brings the fantastic world to life with Michael’s colours really make this an interesting read.
Kassie and Max have gone back into the book in search of Tyler who's been abducted, the only clue to his disappearance the book itself in his house. Why now after all this time however are the events of their childhood coming back to haunt them? I am kind of shocked and loving what Curt does here once they arrive back in that land and who leads them along their way. The dialogue is superb and engaging, witty and clever it really does draw you in and keep your attention.
The past and how it is affecting the present is nicely done as well, actually Curt’s writing skills are on perfect display here. How Tsang’s disappearance last issue was handled is what we see this issue and the result of why Max and Kassie have had such distance between them and it also goes a long way to giving us some incredible characterization from their younger selves that lasts to today. Their shall we call it interrogation from the police about Tsang’s vanishing well it really does go a long way in giving us excitement and piquing of our interest.
Well on their way to finding their friend our intrepid duo find the creature responsible for his abduction and why they are back here. I love the reveal it’s not terribly unexpected but it’s handled so very well. The twist that isn’t a twist well it really amps this all up a notch and makes me excited to see what happens next here.
The epilogue however raises new questions and a new hope or is this a flashback that goes all the way back to the kids folks? Either way something is rotten in Denmark and this time it ain’t the cheese. This is however a wonderfully constructed tale that seems to be bringing things around full circle but is there an ending or will things just keep continuing on somewhere else with others? Full of life, mystery and questions it’s what we read stories for and Curt’s found a way to make it extremely engaging and keeping us wanting to return to see how it all plays out.