Image Comics 2018
Written by Ivan Brandon
Illustrated by Esad Ribic
Coloured by Nic Klein
Lettered by Aditya Bidikar
With fresh augments and new sponsors, Satta Flynn is ready for his big comeback fight. But while war never changes, fame is a fickle mistress. Can Satta reclaim the spotlight?
I’m even more impressed with the second issue than I was with the first and that was a helluva good introduction to the series. However I noticed that Ivan has very sneaky like been able to not only add backstory without using flashbacks and he’s fleshing out the world and the characters in the same stroke and to me that’s pretty amazing. Since he and Esad created the book, the concept, premise and are executing it it’s no wonder that the work we’re seeing is the best to date. The way this is structured and the ebb & flow created here is magnificent.
Also I have begun to really like and appreciate those boxes that appear throughout. Normally things like that are used for narration and with the commercial aspect of them and how they are designed to be company logo’s is something I find incredibly creative and Aditya should be commended for the font she is using so that it has both a progressive feel and for the way it stands out.
Satta Flynn is an interesting man to say the least. This issue we get to see a bit more of him and as things around him are so different from what he remembers and is used to we see more of his personality come out. Though I will say he’s a full time soldier and that’s all he knows so to not be in this arena doing what he does best, at least according to him, he might as well be dead. So right there we see what motivates him beyond everything else. Then there is the fact that his first outing in a long time is one where he’s being told what to do and while I cannot tell if he cares or not about that or if he’s just caught up in the moment and unable to stop until every last one is taken care of. It may be something inside him that drives him kind of like an animal who has a scent and won’t quit till it’s got it or it may be he needs this to feel sane. Either way what Ivan is doing with him is interesting to infinity.
Oh Esad and Nic how I love this work your doing. First let me say Nic and the colour choices and the gradation of colour or just bold pops really stand out. They make you take a closer look at the linework and the varying weights that give Nic that opportunity to do what he’s doing. I love how page layouts are utilised so that we see these angles and perspective in the panels which shows off that amazing eye for storytelling. The imagination and creativity that Esad possesses is truly beautiful because these alien beings run the gamut from threatening to really that’s in the war zone and it’s truly captivating.
I don’t mean to oversell or anything but this is one of the most creative looks at society that I have ever seen. The way this kind of pokes fun of or points out what is wrong with the world in a way that you see and experience but might not overtly accept at face value is spectacular. If you are on the fence with this assessment than read the book and see the kid interacting with the police and tell me then that I am wrong.
Creative, innovative and full of this beautiful craftsmanship this will be in contention for best new series of the year.