Alterna Comics 2015
Written & Lettered by Wes Locher
Illustrated by Eduardo Jimenez
This really is just a plain old fun book it’s got all the elements of a great buddy story between the two agents mixed with the mystery of Roswell and the Alien Conspiracy. It take the whole MIB and amps up the ridiculous humor to the point where it’s highly entertaining without being stupid. It’s still very much thinking humor because of the events that happen but at the same time you can’t help but chuckle throughout the whole issue. Wes is a bright shining voice in smart comedy.
Gibson and Hatch found the unit which was bought and the crystal but in aprehending the men who bought it a third party swooped in and very quickly and quietly took it all leaving them all empty handed. So the boys have to return to base with the bad news. Agent Ballard the man in charge is of course less than pleased with what’s happened. Ballard is that crotchety old guy who knows more than most and wields his power but is as always answerable to someone else making him that guy who you like and yet still wonder how in the world he got this job.
The transition from one angle of the story to another was so well done. Once the trio leaves Ballard’s office his television shows the Alien Encounters starting. They are supposed to have hidden his face and changed his voice for the show but the fact you can see him through the darkness makes me laugh and what happens in the studio as they are talking that’s even better. I’m going out on a limb and say this is a live broadcast since we see everything that happens and the hosts face says it all.
I do like that we learn how this storage unit was sold and how Gibson and Hatch were influenced into forgetting it. So Lindsay is interesting she’s kind of cute and perky but working with this Lance Albright who isn’t a nice man in the slightest. I’ll be interested in learning what connection these two have that she’d work for a man like him and what her connection to the boys are. I’ve got a guess in my head but I’ll wait and see how it plays out.
I think the flashback to when the crash at Roswell happened shedding light on how the alien conspliracy theory got started was nicely done. I like that it’s this black and white pencil work it gives it that old time feel like black and white movies or old photographs keeping with the mainstream technology of that time. Oh though we do get to learn how Albright is connected to this and his relationship with Ballard which is somewhat surprising. It makes complete sense why this is happening now though so it’s nice to see.
There’s a lot going on this issue and we’re given a lot of information and yet Wes makes it all flow so nicely. The introduction of Ballard’s old friend and the being who gave them the crystal to begin with just adds a whole new exciting aspect to this and what’s to come.
Eduardo brings all to life nicely and infuses this great sense of humor into his work that goes right along with the story. He really has a great imagination and it shines here with the way he can demonstrate the moods and emotions on the page.
This is why I love small/self-independent published books because they have the ability to really surprise us. This is fun and it’s a well done diversion to the overly serious stuff we see on the market today.