Dark Circle Comics 2015
Written by Adam Christopher & Chuck Wendig
Illustrated by Drew Johnson
Coloured by Kelly Fitzpatrick
Lettered by Rachel Deering
One of the things I like about this is the reimagining of the history of the Shield. Not what we see from the Crusaders which is fine because it keeps the history of the character varied, interesting and alive. While parts of this feel very Miss Liberty feel to it there’s not much you can do when creating a female character in that era without the comparison. That we open up with Drew and Kelly telling the story visually without much dialogue it really gives off this whole feel of espionage and fighting for the freedom of America.
I also have to say i’m mightily impressed by the quality of the visuals here. The interiors have such great presence to them and emotion and just the perfect amount of oomph. The attention to detail is fantastic and the use pages and panels is fantastically done. Plus I love that we see the whole authentic look and feel of the dress during the American Revolution compared to what we see nowadays in what happens in the present. For me it showcases a lack of style to our clothes and attitude but then i’m a throwback and a little old fashioned as I feel one should dress to leave the house.
After the past is played out we see the present. The Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police Department where a young woman has been arrested and allowed to escape. Pay attention to all this because the writing, dialogue and people in it are important to the story. What’s most prominent in all this is that the young woman in question doesn’t know who she is, why she’s there or what’s happening. Kind of like an amnesiac patient knowing their skills without how they got them. Not the first take on it we’ve seen but it’s rather well depicted here as are the snippets she remembers in her mind.
As the story continues and we see more of her running, always running from what even she has no idea we get to page where her memory kicks in some. It’s also a pin-up page with the narration to go along with the visual and amazing well done together. Everything leads up to the last page. The cop who allowed her to escape, the agents that want her in their custody heck even the bad guy all have a role leading into how the issue ends. So we’re left with so many questions about who’s who and what they want with Victoria Adams, the Shield.
As far as introductions go this one could be taught in class. It’s got the origin of sorts that introduces the main character. It has an unexplained why here, now and me to it. It also has friends, foes and not really being able to tell which are which. Plus there’s a bit of action and beating up common thugs along the way. All of it wrapped up in this really good visual package. Plus it’s a perfect example of how you take a character and switch their gender from what’s familiar to something new, fresh and exciting without it feeling contrived.
Dark Circle Comics, an Archie Imprint, is doing an absolute amazing job bringing these characters back, making them relevant and exciting. Plus it seems we’ve got a brand new female lead to look up to here and we need more of those!