Image Comics 2015
Written by Ales Kot
Illustrated by Matt Taylor
Coloured by Lee Loughridge
What an incredibly interesting first issue this is. I love the opening when we see Antoine walking and singing while on fire and then there’s the whole narration first with him mentioning Myths then with the population statuses. I love a good story that centers around supernatural beings and of course Los Angeles well why wouldn’t they be drawn there where decadence reigns? Not to mention plenty of gangs and underhanded dealings happening all over the place it makes for a good fit.
Ten hours later we get our first real glimpse at him as a person and the characterization is surprising. Granted cops may not be known as the smartest folks around and when he’s questioned about what happened well it reveals Antoine’s intelligence. Then his chat after that with the homeless woman it all just keeps giving you layers to this guy that give him a greater appeal. It also helps us understand, just a little, the world he lives in.
His second encounter after leaving the police station well it shows us that not all myths are legends and not all people who can do things are to be liked. With any kind of population there will be those who use their talents for good and those that use them for evil it’s just human nature. It’s an interesting look at something we’ll see again in this book and the contrast of the characters and how the non-regular people interact with each well I like the implications.
Once he gets home he’s got a visitor waiting for him. I have to admit that what we saw in the opening once it’s explained is something I would not have expected from something akin to a job interview. The man at his place yeah immediately we are told that he’s racist which then seems to indicate that setting him on fire the way he was was well more personal and fun considering the colour of his skin. His story and what he knows or thinks he realizes about the situation he’s in and the boss man he’s dealing with is indeed a good ole southern style boy who doesn’t like those outside his own people, colour of the skin. It’s not delicately done it’s in your face and both characters know exactly where they stand with the other and I found it fascinating that neither tried to hide it.
I think by doing it this way Ales really took a gamble that paid off. There isn’t and subterfuge about how they feel the job for Antione is to help his family and he understands the risks of doing this and has weighed the risk vs reward. I love Ales’ mind and how it works and that he’s pretty fearless in the fact that when he wants to write something he does it with such style and grace and very heavy amount of honesty and that he isn’t doing this for anyone else but for his own reasons and just hopes that others like what he does.
This is an oversized first issue 60 pages worth and it doesn’t just focus on Antoine though he is the main character. The whole issue swirls with so much potential and love and hatred and things should and shouldn't be that you really have this wonderful opportunity to get lost in this world he’s created and get to know Antoine as much as we can here as well as those around him and it’s just well i’m gonna use delightful, different and fascinating.
Matt and Lee bring this to life very nicely as well. Sometimes the scenery is full and detailed and other times its sparse and your focus is only on the characters. The monster population isn’t meant to be terrifying in appearance so it’s not like a traditional horror story but more hey i’m different don’t judge me so much. The bodies are very well proportioned and the mood, tone and feel they bring from the page to the reader is really great. Overall this is a great compliment to the writing.
Image is home to some of the most intense and unique creator driven stories and it would seem they have found another in Wolf.