Dark Horse Comics 2018
Written by Mike Mignola & Chris Roberson
Illustrated by D’Israeli
Coloured by Michelle Madsen
Lettered by Clem Robins
Edward Grey starts to run out of leads when a familiar enemy tries to throttle his investigation. Meanwhile, the stakes only get higher as a ghostly thief continues to terrorize London.
This is one of those infectious series that once you start it you find yourself eagerly awaiting it’s return. Edward is one of the greatest characters around and to keep seeing act like Sherlock but be regarded as Inspector Clouseau it’s just something I personally find interesting. He’s more than competent and is knighted by the Queen for his service to the crown, though that doesn’t mean everyone is one of his fans. Not to mention that pesky order keeps asking him to join their ranks, which would in theory stop him from harassing them, again in theory.
I gotta say that I loved the opening for this issue. Colonel Burke has a little mishap where he finds an object that well changes forever how we see this world. It is also the beginning of the Foundry which is of some note. It is here we see the birth of the steam engine and the plethora of uses that can entail. It is like some sort of steampunk lover’s delight to see all these crafts in one place to be used as only their imagination is limited to. Brief history lesson ins included in this because it’s important for the reader to understand the context of what these crotchety old men are doing at the Foundry.
I think when you put Mike & Chris together on a story you are going to get some of the overall best storytelling you can possibly imagine. From the way that this is structured to the way we see the pacing of the story, it’s development and the all so important characterisation are featured so prominently and intertwined to perfection so every last darn thing that we see is precisely what we are supposed to be seeing. It’s like going to your favourite restaurant and ordering that dish that you get every time your there because you know how utterly amazing it’s going to be.
So we finally get to why Edward was called here and then of course it would seem that Major Singh should accompany him even though the Queen vouches for him. Yeah that’s the whole seen differently than he is part that I love seeing thrown in his face. Every cocky arrogant person who thinks they are the end all be all in their field they deserve it. I will say however that things didn’t go as Edward was thinking they would and honestly I was shocked by the events which unfolded as well! I adore when that happens as it tends to throw the reader for a loop in all the right ways.
I will praise D’Israeli for his story, and what he brings tot he book. Michelle’s colours are very well suited to the work and the palate that we see chosen for the overall look, tone and feel is remarkably well done. When we see the attention to detail and time spent on the backgrounds I want to see them everywhere we look there really something special seeing the world fleshed out like this steam engine run machines. Plus the way that page layouts are utilised and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels shows off such a great eye for storytelling.
I like that insofar we get to see a mystery that needs solving, the introduction of a few characters that shocking, creepy and unsettling to say the least but all play their part to perfection. It’s not a matter of who, not really, its more of a why and a how and I look forward to these fine folks as they bring us this adventure.