Burnt Biscuit Books 2018
Written by Michael Stark & Terrell T. Garrett
Illustrated by Derek Rodenbeck
Coloured by Ellen Belmont
Lettered by Elizabeth McBride
ABOUT WOLVERTON, THIEF OF IMPOSSIBLE OBJECTS
In turn of the century London, Jack Wolverton, gentleman thief, specializes in stealing the arcane, the accursed and the occult. With war about to break out, only he can stop the world’s most powerful artefacts (The Monkey’s Paw, The Hope Diamond and the Portrait of Dorian Gray) from falling into the wrong hands!
I have had this for a month and I am just now getting around to it. Unfortunately I don’t always get to requests for reviews in a timely manner and well I do all this by myself I have no one else working the site with me while this isn’t an excuse it’s a reality. So now that I have finally read this I have to say this was an absolutely amazing introduction to the world that Wolverton inhabits. This is why I love perusing Artist Alley at conventions because you find books like this and the quality of this one right here is extraordinary.
The opening narration with the image of a Cat well it catches your eye, draws you in and makes you curious about what we’re about to experience. Then to see Wolverton or The Black Cat in action is pretty spectacular and seals the deal of whether or not you are going to enjoy this book. Again when we see what is happening and how the characters react and interact with one another has this unexpected style and grace to it that I found mesmerising. This is the kind of work where the guys have actually done their homework and are depicting the characters as authentically as they possibly can.
I am pretty darn impressed with the quality of the writing here. The way they’ve structured the book and how we see the ebb & flow of action and the release of information is superb. The introduction of characters and getting a sense of their personalities is something that is done extremely well. We get a sense of them not the full view so there is so much left to really explore and I get excited because no one is what they seem and that kind misdirection is effective in getting the reader to come back and discover more about them.
The interiors here are absolutely stunning. I love what we see here and the attention to detail is exquisite and the fact that what we get oozes emotions and feelings is just a bonus. The manipulation of the linework through it’s varying weights to create the smallest details to the boldest of blacks it plays the most perfect of parts. The utilisation of page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels shows off such a wonderful eye for storytelling. Backgrounds when they are used are sensationally well done and why they aren’t it feels right. Also this makes me feel like I am reading an older book, the kind that may be Pulp’s or books like House of Mystery, Secrets, Ghosts all those great series that were meant to thrill, excite and engage readers like no others.
The concept behind the series is divine. A gentleman thief with the manners and ways of the elite that steals for the good of mankind. So take that and expand it in the way that takes him on these escapades that fuel his desire to prove science trumps magic and let’s face it while they didn’t have this term then but he’s an adrenaline junkie. So the introduction of two characters surprised me in the absolute best of ways here and I look forward to seeing how they change Wolverton’s views.
This is an amazingly good story with some truly gifted interior artwork. It engages the reader and transports them back to a time when people dressed to leave the house, had good manners and liked to experience all the world has to offer. It is exciting for all the right reasons and I cannot recommend that you support this enough!
You can order this one and pre-order the second issue here-- https://www.wolvertoncomicbook.com/