Image Comics 2019
Created & Written by Jody LeHeup
Created & Illustrated by Nathan Fox
Coloured by Moreno Disinio
Lettered by Steve Wands
PREVIOUSLY:
Local weatherman Nathan Bright was living the good life on terraformed Mars when he’s suddenly accused of carrying out the worst terrorist attack in human history—an attack that killed billions of people on Earth. Confused, terrified, and hunted by the entire galaxy, Nathan’s only hope lies with government agent Amanda Cross, who informs Nathan that he isn’t Nathan Bright at all. His real name is Ian Black and he’s a member of the Sword of God, the notorious terrorist group responsible for the attack. Nathan doesn’t remember any of this because Ian Black wiped his mind and gave himself a new identity as Nathan Bright. Why he did so remains a mystery…
So the planet Earth is now quarantined thanks to the virus that is still a threat on the planets surface. No one in their right mind wants to go to the planets surface and those on the surface are desperate to get off world. The few hubs of humanity left are trying their damnedest to survive and they face horrible odds and do whatever it takes to survive. This issue demonstrates that and so much more in this new volume. I think that Jody and Nathan have created one of those unique and crazy different story ideas that on paper you’d be wary of but in reality it’s one of those can’t miss series.
I am enjoying the way that this is structured. Jody really does a very good job with how we get to see the story & plot development through the pacing create this really interesting ebb & flow. While this issue is not very action heavy I am more than okay with that because seriously that we are seeing how Nathan is being treated by all these guys is worth it’s weight in gold. The more we get to see and learn about Nathan and those who are with him the more we get to see motivations, hopes and fears for all these folks. Then to make matters even more intense we get the ending here that brings about something else entirely to the table and I was left pretty much jaw agape in stunned silence.
I love the interiors here. There is a lot of great linework happening here and through it’s varying weights thus creating the attention to detail that we’re seeing is just magnificent. Right away you know that Nathan’s bringing it all to the table in some no-nonsense style. Seeing the computers with maps and scribbles or whatnot make a difference whether your eye stops on it or not. The sheer amount of backgrounds being utilised makes me thrilled beyond belief as they really do expand the moments and bring this amazing sense of size and scope to the story. The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show such a stupendous eye for storytelling. The colour work here too is extremely nice to see. From the bright vibrant and bold colours to those that are more subtle in nature are extremely successful. Plus they really do manage to create the right mood, tone and feel to what we’re seeing. Oh and thank you for that last page I do so hope we see more men, and women, like that.
As we enter the next phase of Nathan’s life as he faces the very real prospect of having the only existence he knows erased and replaced by one of the Galaxy’s most wanted these fine folks have upped the ante. I have no idea what is coming next but hey that’s half the fun and after the shocking cliffhanger ending here I've got those delightful shivers running down my spine.