Image Comics 2014
Written by Warren Ellis
Illustrated by Jason Howard
I love this series it makes me want to learn more about the technicalities of the science we’re seeing. I want to learn, discover and feel threatened by what’s happening to this world not only by the presence of the Trees themselves but with what we see unravelling in New York City as well. There’s this mix of human fear and survival instincts mixed into the whole saving the world from these alien parasitic things that have arrived. Warren balances it all like a trapeze artist walking the tightrope at the circus. Then Jason takes the direction and makes this come to life in such a way that it doesn’t seem like a comic but more like National Geographic or a television mini-series. They really do make this a the kind of book you just can’t skim you have to really read it and multiple times at that if you want to get the most out of it.
Dr. Jo Creasy the sole survivor of Svalbard has come to Orkney Scotland to see about a site and make sure there isn’t an infestation of Blindhail Poppies. The black flowers that we saw growing in the ice that ended up blowing up Svalbard and killing all but Jo. What she gets is Dr. Ian Greenaway an old curmudgeon who is distrustful of government agencies and appears to be something of conspiracy theorist. Still he’s passionate about his work and Jo isn’t mincing words though she doesn’t quite get the implications he reveals here.
I love these two together there’s this whole doctor to doctor conversation with an honesty that is refreshing and the ramifications of the information given is huge. This could be one of those things that changes how the Trees are viewed and how all things now on Earth are interconnected. This is literally game changing stuff should they be able to work together, listen to each other and connect the dots. They head to a site where there are ring of stones covered in lichens and it’s here you really have to read and listen to what’s being said.
In New York the Mayor elect is giving us his own tour of the city and meeting with the folks he does is some great revealing stuff. This doesn’t do much to tell us about the Tree here but it speaks incredible volumes about the city itself. Much of what we learn is really thanks to Jason and the scenery we see as he goes to his destination. The devastation from the Trees arrival and the impact it’s had on these people is disheartening to put it mildly. The meeting he has with his street-level supporters was enlightening and only serves to deepen the mystery of what’s happened for the Mayor elect in his designs for running the city.
The last two images we see however are we really stuck with me here. The interconnectedness here is what’s got my attention. It actually makes me excited for what’s to come still.
There’s an originality and uniqueness here that screams for your attention.