Scout Comics/NonStop 2019
Written & Lettered by Michael Lagace
Illustrated by Todor Hristov
The newest entry in the new NonStop! Imprint where Scout releases a World Premiere issue followed by the entire story a few months later in one volume. In 1794, a young man named John is given a map. Curious, he follows it, and when he arrives at the end, he finds a similar map. This leads him to another, and then another, and on and on. Determined to find something, anything, else, he continues to follow these strange maps all over the country. Decades later, he learns that as long as he follows them, he doesn't seem to get older... and it's not until nearly a century later that he realizes when he stops, time begins to catch up with him. Torn between family and immortality, John must continually choose between living forever and having a life worth living.
Sometimes when you see the first page you just know that you HAVE to read the story. That's exactly how I felt when I saw this. Once you start reading the story you are immediately pulled into this even further as the intrigue surrounding the story begins to take shape. I mean it's easy to understand and follow along but there is something about this that is mystifying and fascinating without ever even learning why. I mean why? That's the burning question and it's one that you cannot find an easy answer to and that will burn itself into your soul and keep you here just as much as these maps do these men.
The story & plot development here is spot on marvellous in how they come together, separate and reveal information, characterisation and all the twists and turns that we cannot even begin to fully understand. There is that IT factor here that you know is there because you feel it if not exactly put your finger on what it is. This kind of writing is the kind of stuff where you read it and the writer has you for life. You will find his work, read it blind just because he's writing it, it is that strong. When you add in the pacing of the story and how it picks it all up and carries forward it creates such a beautiful ebb & flow. The way it meanders has this comfortable feeling about it that almost lulls you as it takes you from place to place.
Alright let's talk about the interiors here because they are an effin standout. The work is damn well bloody brilliant and how we see these various techniques that are utilised along with the varying weights of the linework to create this level and quality of attention to detail blows me away. There are some truly wondrous techniques being utilised and some I learned in art classes over the years and how it looks like they could be old wood etchings or the first photographs just add the overall mystique that it holds. The way we see the composition inside the panels and how we get this incredible depth perception and sense of scale really is impressive. The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels shows off one the best eyes for storytelling that I've seen. The lack of true colour and instead the browns, blacks, greys and sepia tones complete that authentic era feel.
So I think I really like John. When we meet him he's sixteen and living with a rich and powerful man who's his father. So naturally in this day and age that also means he's one mean son of a bitch as well. He rules with an iron fist and there's a reason why the community despises him though there's more when we see him in action. The characterisation is amazing to see and how well these characters get fleshed out and brought to life helps the reader to connect to them. Also that we get just enough to think we've figured out what's going but, yes but, there's plenty of room for us to be wrong and thus ensuring our return.
I keep saying I love Scout Comics and they keep giving me reasons to. They are putting some of the most captivating stories that I am having the pleasure to read.