Image Comics 2014
Written by Jim Zub
Illustrated by Steven Cummings
Coloured by Tamra Bonvillain
Colour Assists by Brittany Peer
Lettered by Marshall Dillon
Back Matter by Zack Davisson
Manipulated by the Tsuchigumo, their spiders allies, Rori and her friends attacked a gathering of kitsune warriors at the Tokyo Tower. At the climax of their battle a massive supernatural fire destroyed the kitsune and was witnessed by hundreds of innocent bystanders.
These folks may not exactly be household names but they’ve very quietly amassed a body of work that is not only interesting but stunning in it’s scope. Not only has this been thrilling in the way the characters behave, are manipulated and try to find their way in this new world but it’s also a history lesson of a very old culture mostly unknown by the Western World. This issue opens with what I see the world is like today, this need to be connected to devices with instantaneous information thrown at us constantly. We are less concerned with the past, the beauty of nature or really the world around us instead it’s devices that people both connect and disconnect them from the real world that take precedence.
I love the dichotomy between Segawa and Nurarihyon as the new god and the old one walk and talk side by side which illuminates their differences. This is the kind of writing and characterization that makes a good book a stellar read. Meanwhile we also see Rori’s father again as Dermot is being held because his daughter is a suspected domestic terrorist. At first I wondered about the mixing of their cultures and it finally hit me this issue what we see how perfectly tied together they are.
For those who don’t realize it the Celtic Gods of old are as influential and as powerful of those of Japan for their people. Also it’s home of the Druids, magic using weavers in their own right so that it didn’t dawn on me the connection between the two till now is shameful on my part. However it demonstrates Jim’s writing ability to keep that they're in your face without revealing it till it’s important to the story.
I’m in such awe of what Steven and Tamra can do here. These pages have consistently been amazing but they’ve just been getting more intricate, detailed and beautiful with each passing issue. The majesty of these creatures don’t fight their fearsome visage the balance struck is amazing. Then there’s just the people, average everyday ordinary people who emote and tell a story through their posture and facial expressions. Plus the eye Steven has for page and panel layouts to keep the story flowing the way they do just adds so much to the mix. I mean the two page spread is storytelling without words and it’s strong and powerful.
The events of this issue will lead to the final arc in the story and set up the next one and from the looks of things this rollercoaster ride isn’t stopping, slowing down or getting any less thrilling. This is the perfect blend of culture’s old and new in a battle to survive and thrive.